Policy DM5 - Southend-on-Sea's Historic Environment

On behalf of the Shoebury Residents Association:

Members are concerned that the Shoebury Garrison site current, proposed and future developments are not clearly understood by the residents of Shoebury and that the residents do not have easy access to the overall development plans as they are developing.
Residents wish to see any future plans for both the historic conservation area and the other parts of the garrison site show clearly how the proposed development fits into whole site.

Members also wish to see what has been approved historically, and any future development which quotes the originally approved development as its authority for new works, is checked by council officers before the submission can be approved by council members.

We are pleased to note that the historic environment is referred to in several policies and welcome in particular policy DM5. The recognition given to the importance of protecting the settings of heritage assets, including those of conservation areas, is useful. We also welcome the character zone approach in policy DM6 relating to the Seafront, and the commitment to protecting Leigh Old Town.

While we have expressed reservations in previous consultations in relation to the role of tall buildings, we note that part 2 of policy DM4 contains specific reference to protecting the setting of heritage assets and we welcome the inclusion of this safeguard in this particular policy.

Overall, we would like to express our support for the historic environment content and the manner in which the above policies reflect Planning Policy Statement 5.