brentwood.gov.uk

Object

Representation ID: 1198

Received: 02/10/2013

Respondent: Gladman Developments

1. Spatial Distribution. Brentwood has a number of different and distinct housing market areas. Each of these distinct areas will have their own requirement for housing and this should be reflected in the spatial distribution of housing supply within the Local Plan. This decision should be based on the findings of the evidence base and should not be a politically driven spatial strategy to put a disproportionate amount of housing in areas where people don't want to (and will not) live. Following a dispersed spatial distribution pattern across a large number of settlements is also undesirable as this approach is not likely to be sustainable, will not be delivered and cannot generate the level of community benefits that larger sites can to help make settlements more sustainable and fill important gaps in community provision. However, this should not preclude development in lower order sustainable settlements, which could also help to sustain existing facilities and services. The Local Plan needs to provide sufficient flexibility to address situations where housing does not come forward as expected. In this regard it may be necessary to plan for the release of additional housing sites, and earlier in the Plan period, to maintain a five-year housing land supply. In some instances this objective may be best achieved through sustainable, deliverable sites that do not benefit from a formal Plan designation.

2. The Framework sets out that Local Plans should be drawn up over an appropriate time scale, preferably a 15-year time horizon. Gladman note that once adopted it is likely that the Local Plan will not cover a 15 year period. Gladman submit that a Plan can only come into effect from the date of adoption. There would need to be compelling reasons to ignore the guidance set out in §157 of the Framework.

In summary: we have concerns over the soundness of the plan specifically:
* Housing requirement
* Affordable housing
* Plan Period
* Spatial distribution
* Viability