Comment
New Local Plan
Representation ID: 3662
Received: 02/04/2019
Respondent: Thurrock Borough Council
Thurrock Council recognises that due to the current evidence on urban capacity indicating a significant shortfall compared to housing need, that Southend Council has sought to consider alternative options to accommodating its housing requirement including assessing the potential to accommodate development in the Green Belt. As part of the testing of reasonable options to accommodate housing growth, Southend Council along with neighbouring authorities have undertaken an initial South East Essex Strategic Growth Locations Assessment (SEESGLA).
The SEESGLA study is largely a constraint-led assessment and identifies one area north of Fossetts Farm, Garon Park and Bournes Green Chase, incorporating land both within Southend and Rochford Council boundaries, that has the potential (subject to further assessment) to accommodate a strategic settlement of 6,000-8,000 dwellings.
It is acknowledged that this SEESGLA assessment includes the potential for a strategic scale new settlement but that this is only an initial stage of evidence gathering and that such an approach to identifying new strategic growth locations will also need to have regard to the emerging South Essex Strategic Growth Locations Study (SGLS) and other evidence. It is noted further evidence is being undertaken including an assessment of transport impacts and mitigation and assessment of impact on the Green Belt.
The provision of a strategic new settlement of the scale identified under Option 3 together with the sources from the urban area and urban extensions would assist Southend in meeting its housing need. However Thurrock Council as stated under Option 1 would suggest that a thorough review of the sources of capacity within the urban area is undertaken as well as any further assessment of a new settlement options.
Thurrock Council also seeks further clarification on a number of issues relating to the strategic new settlement under Option 3:
• It is unclear why a new settlement of minimum of 6,000-8,000 is considered appropriate? The SEESGLA study seems to imply this had been determined largely on the basis that such a scale of settlement would support a three form school provision?
• It is unclear why other sizes of development have not been tested in this location and in the other locations?
• It is not clear in the Issues and Options whether Southend Council considers that most of the new settlement provision would contribute to its need or whether it includes provision to meet the housing need of Rochford Council?
• At 6,000 to 8, 000 dwellings this is unlikely to represent a sustainable development and it is unclear what infrastructure and services would be provided on site and the impact on infrastructure in existing locations;
• It is unclear what are the transport impacts and mitigation measures especially when taken together with other impacts of growth along the A127?
• It is assumed that Green Belt and landscape impact assessments of the development will be provided as part of the evidence base?
• It is unclear what assumptions are to be made about the phasing and deliverability of such a development?
• It is unclear how the development is intended to be brought forward and what level of master planning and design led planning are to be considered?
In addition to the South Essex SGLS it is considered that a number of other studies will need to be commissioned and developed to support such a development and justify such an approach to be included within the South Essex JSP and Southend New Local Plan.
Thurrock Council recognises that due to the current evidence on urban capacity indicating a significant shortfall compared to housing need, that Southend Council has sought to consider alternative options to accommodating its housing requirement including assessing the potential to accommodate development in the Green Belt. As part of the testing of reasonable options to accommodate housing growth, Southend Council along with neighbouring authorities have undertaken an initial South East Essex Strategic Growth Locations Assessment (SEESGLA).
The SEESGLA study is largely a constraint-led assessment and identifies one area north of Fossetts Farm, Garon Park and Bournes Green Chase, incorporating land both within Southend and Rochford Council boundaries, that has the potential (subject to further assessment) to accommodate a strategic settlement of 6,000-8,000 dwellings.
It is acknowledged that this SEESGLA assessment includes the potential for a strategic scale new settlement but that this is only an initial stage of evidence gathering and that such an approach to identifying new strategic growth locations will also need to have regard to the emerging South Essex Strategic Growth Locations Study (SGLS) and other evidence. It is noted further evidence is being undertaken including an assessment of transport impacts and mitigation and assessment of impact on the Green Belt.
The provision of a strategic new settlement of the scale identified under Option 3 together with the sources from the urban area and urban extensions would assist Southend in meeting its housing need. However Thurrock Council as stated under Option 1 would suggest that a thorough review of the sources of capacity within the urban area is undertaken as well as any further assessment of a new settlement options.
Thurrock Council also seeks further clarification on a number of issues relating to the strategic new settlement under Option 3:
• It is unclear why a new settlement of minimum of 6,000-8,000 is considered appropriate? The SEESGLA study seems to imply this had been determined largely on the basis that such a scale of settlement would support a three form school provision?
• It is unclear why other sizes of development have not been tested in this location and in the other locations?
• It is not clear in the Issues and Options whether Southend Council considers that most of the new settlement provision would contribute to its need or whether it includes provision to meet the housing need of Rochford Council?
• At 6,000 to 8, 000 dwellings this is unlikely to represent a sustainable development and it is unclear what infrastructure and services would be provided on site and the impact on infrastructure in existing locations;
• It is unclear what are the transport impacts and mitigation measures especially when taken together with other impacts of growth along the A127?
• It is assumed that Green Belt and landscape impact assessments of the development will be provided as part of the evidence base?
• It is unclear what assumptions are to be made about the phasing and deliverability of such a development?
• It is unclear how the development is intended to be brought forward and what level of master planning and design led planning are to be considered?
In addition to the South Essex SGLS it is considered that a number of other studies will need to be commissioned and developed to support such a development and justify such an approach to be included within the South Essex JSP and Southend New Local Plan.