brentwood.gov.uk

The Council does not object to the principle of allocating land at Dunton Hills for a new garden village. The advantages of encouraging growth through strategic-scale development and adoption of garden principles are noted, including the opportunity to provide a "critical mass" of population for the purposes of securing meaningful infrastructure improvements and providing the conditions for a sustainable and healthy community to thrive. This approach is considered to broadly align with national policy and emerging Government objectives.
Brentwood Borough Council should, however, satisfy itself and the Inspector that the proposed allocation is capable of sustainably and viably accommodating the level of growth proposed and securing the infrastructure needed. It must be shown that due consideration has been given to the cumulative impacts of growth likely to come forward in the environs of Dunton Hills, including in neighbouring Basildon and Thurrock Boroughs, and that Duty to Co-operate requirements between Brentwood and these Boroughs have been fulfilled. Furthermore, transport improvements must be deliverable and viable to ensure that the impacts of growth at the scale proposed on the strategic highway network, including the A127, is capable of being mitigated.
It is acknowledged that the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan is likely to provide an overarching framework for the delivery of growth across South Essex, including by exploring opportunities for strategic-scale growth elsewhere through garden communities. The Council would therefore encourage Brentwood Borough Council to continue to engage through the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) and the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to ensure that the growth ambitions of the region can be realised in the most sustainable, effective and equitable way. This may require further consideration to be given to Dunton Hills and other proposed allocations to explore their capacity for delivering strategic-scale growth