Object

Draft Local Plan

Representation ID: 13989

Received: 23/03/2016

Respondent: Mrs Helen Gabell

Representation Summary:

Re: Dunton area: SO8 - Fails to support rural economy by building on the only bit of green belt South of the A127

Full text:

SO7 - You claim you want to 'Optimise the social and economic benefits that arise from Crossrail for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors to the Borough', yet you dump most of housing needs that would benefit from Crossrail south of the A127, where there are numerous problems with the C2C line, the houses would not be near a station anyway, as the A128 would create a barrier which requires residents to drive and park at either Laindon or West Horndon. A quick check on the C2C twitter and Facebook pages would tell you how many problems they have. The 2,500 houses planned for Dunton, and the 500 houses planned for West Horndon would be cut off from good transport needs, with or without the proposed Lower Thames Crossing Option C Route 4 being built, which will only add to their isolation if it went ahead.

SO8 - You claim will 'Promote and support a prosperous rural economy' yet you propose to build half of your housing allocation on Green Belt agricultural land, South of the A127.

SO9 - You claim you will 'Safeguard the Green Belt from inappropriate development and enhance its beneficial use', yet you propose a massive inappropriate development of the very limited supply of Green Belt South of the A127. It has greater value as there is less of it. The National Planning and Policy Framework states that that Green Belt is there to check unrestricted sprawl, and to prevent neighbouring towns from merging. The limited supply of Green Belt land in the area between Brentwood and Basildon South of the A127 is very limited, and both councils propose building up to the boundaries, thereby creating unrestricted sprawl, as well as merging neighbouring towns. South of the A127 there will be virtually no Green Belt separating the London Borough of Havering all the way to Southend. The Green Belt is also supposed to be there to assist in in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, and preserving the setting and special character of historic towns, yet you

; and 5. Assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.