Support
Strategic Growth Options
Representation ID: 12322
Received: 17/02/2015
Respondent: S & J Padfield and Partners
Agent: Strutt & Parker LLP
Support allocation of employment sites in proximity to strategic highway network, M25 and A127. Codham Hall North [site ref 101B] currently provides valuable employment to meet Borough needs. The updated Economic Futures Study (2014) notes that proposed new site allocations with existing employment uses do not represent additional supply. In order to deliver net increase in employment as requested by the NPPF it is important that the current extent of employment use at Codham Hall North is formally allocated for employment purposes. This will provide certainty for existing businesses and reduce need for additional new employment sites in the Borough.
I write on behalf of S & J Padfield and Partners with regards to the above consultation and site 101B at
Codham Hall (north of the A127).
Our comments particularly relate to chapter 4 of the consultation document concerning Economic Prosperity and consultation question 7. Question 7 states that "To enable future employment need to be met do you agree that the most sustainable approach is to allocate new sites close to the strategic highway network?"
The allocation of employment sites in proximity to the strategic highway network and to the M25 and A127 is supported.
As noted in the plan the site at Codham Hall currently provides for valuable provision for employment to meet needs within the Borough. The references on page 22 of the Strategic Growth Options Consultation is therefore supported which states: "101A Proposed as Brentwood Enterprise Park in the 2013 Preferred Options, this land presents an opportunity to provide a new business park for the Borough and meet the majority of unmet employment need. Alternative sites would not meet this need together and so an alternative piece of land would need to be identified if this site were not to come forward."
This approach is reflected in the update to the Council's Economic Futures Study carried out by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (December 2014) which provides important evidence on this topic. The NLP report notes at paragraph 4.5 that "proposed new employment site allocations 101B (Brentwood Enterprise Park) and 108 (The Old Pump Works, Great Warley Street) have existing employment uses on site and therefore do not represent additional land supply". In order to deliver a net increase in employment provision as requested by the NPPF and set out in the NLP report it is therefore especially important that the current extent of employment use at Codham Hall North is formally allocated for employment purposes. This will provide certainty for existing businesses at the site and assist in reducing the overall need for additional new employment sites in the Borough.
I attach a plan indicating the extent of existing employment uses and we would request that the proposed allocation is drawn to accord with this area.