brentwood.gov.uk

Infrastructure -
ECC agrees that the Local Plan will be critical for making sure BBC has the right infrastructure, at the right time, to accommodate the new jobs and homes proposed within the Plan period. ECC considers that large scale housing developments will need to include appropriate infrastructure such as education provision, community and health facilities, flood mitigation through SUDs, and improvements to transport infrastructure. Small scale development should also fund improvements to existing services and facilities. ECC note that infrastructure provision is likely to have a major impact on the phasing and deliverability of development.

ECC consider the phasing of development and funding of infrastructure will be crucial for effective delivery and this will need to be reflected in the evidence base as Local Plan preparation progresses. Currently ECC consider that this is unclear.

ECC therefore consider it essential that all sites are assessed together as part of Plan preparation to identify which sites or strategic locations are the most suitable and deliverable for a particular use. It is imperative that the costs of providing infrastructure as a direct result of development proposals, particularly those related to early years and childcare, primary and secondary schools, and highways, for which ECC has a statutory responsibility, are included in the viability assessment from the outset, to ensure provision is guaranteed. ECC seeks clarity on how this process has been undertaken.

ECC would draw BBC's attention to the ECC Full Council Motion in October 2014, reaffirmed in July 2017, which states that 'Essex County Council will not support Local (Development) Plans unless adequate resources are identified from developers, local councils and/or Government grants to ensure that sufficient infrastructure, including roads, schools, medical facilities, parking, sewerage and drainage, is provided in a timely manner and in a way that balances the needs to promote economic growth and provide housing for residents whilst protecting their quality of life'. In accordance with this Motion, it is recommended that ECC continues to withhold support for the Draft Plan, until the appropriate work in relation to ensuring the provision of all suitable infrastructure has been undertaken, and ECC has reviewed and confirmed its satisfaction with the work.

The Local Plan spatial strategy is of particular importance to ECC as it will need to be satisfied that the impact of any planned scale and distribution of growth can be accommodated by ECC areas of responsibility, or identify what additional facilities or mitigation are required to make the strategy sustainable in social, economic and environmental terms.

An IDP will need to be prepared to support the Local Plan, and identify infrastructure required. The Local Plan should make clear, for at least the first five years, what infrastructure is required, who is going to fund and provide it, and how it relates to the anticipated rate and phasing of development. For the later stages of the Plan period less detail may be provided as the position regarding the provision of infrastructure is likely to be less certain. As a provider of key services and subject to statutory responsibilities, for example minerals and waste; highways, education, early years and childcare; and public health, ECC is keen to assist BBC in the preparation of the IDP, and welcomes the opportunity for engagement with BBC to assist in the preparation of the Local Plan towards pre-submission. However, as stated above, until this appropriate work has been undertaken, and ECC has reviewed and confirmed its satisfaction with the work, it is recommended that ECC continues to withhold support for the Draft Plan.