brentwood.gov.uk

Employment -
ECC acknowledges the ambition to develop new key strategic employment sites but this needs to be set within the wider context of Brentwood's Spatial Strategy, and any location to be consistent with the criteria to seek to ensure future developments are located in accessible locations reducing the need to travel. ECC therefore withholds support until the appropriate highway modelling has been undertaken, to assess both the site specific and cumulative impacts of such developments on the local, and wider, highway network.

ECC raises concerns over the allocation of 57% of the new employment land on one site, Brentwood Enterprise Park (BEP). The Economic Forecast Report also highlights concerns with regard to the considerable reliance on the BEP employment allocation. It is recommended that consideration be given to the phasing and deliverability of the site, to ensure a readily available supply of employment land across the short, medium and long term.

Furthermore ECC would draw attention to the 'red line' boundary for the LTC major road scheme, which seeks to incorporate a significant part of the BEP employment allocation. Whilst it is acknowledged that one of the aims of the LTC is to be a key driver for economic activity, and if such a scheme is not to impact on the deliverability of the BEP, clarification is sought over this matter, and in respect of the deliverability of the full allocation over the Plan period, particularly given the need for the site to come forward in phases over the short, medium and long term.

ECC acknowledges the significant contribution the BEP allocation would make to meeting the employment needs of the Borough over the Plan period. However, its location, in close proximity to the M25 and A127, which is presently over capacity, provides primarily car based connections to service centres, and potential sources of employees. The location is not favourable to sustainable transport measures and at present there is limited evidence regarding any potential connectivity of the proposed development via sustainable transport measures. Additional clarification will be required regarding opportunities for such measures, and the output of any impact on the strategic junction, local road network and potential mitigation requirements to be programmed (as part of the IDP). The potential impact on the above would also depend on the mix of B1, B2 and B8 uses proposed on the site.