brentwood.gov.uk

Support

Representation ID: 544

Received: 02/10/2013

Respondent: Hansteen Holdings Plc

Agent: McGough Planning Consultants

1.We support the LPA's preferred spatial strategy of focusing the majority of new development on land within accessible settlements, like West Horndon. This would allow sustainable previously developed sites, like the two industrial estates in West Horndon, to be redeveloped in a way that makes a positive contribution to the village (and wider borough) and is in accord with the NPPF.
2.We support the Key Diagram showing the strategic allocation at West Horndon, both parts of the West Horndon industrial estates. Hansteen and Threadneedle's estates are on previously developed land within the village boundary, adjacent to West Horndon railway station..Housing development on the estates would make a significant contribution to the total housing land supply for Brentwood, which would be broadly consistent with the NPPF, particularly paragraphs 47 and 52.
3.Hansteen considers this paragraph to be non-contentious, in conformity with the NPPF, and would go further in confirming our own support for the protection of Green Belt. We are, though, concerned that a debate about the Green Belt release at West Horndon would undermine the real benefits of redevelopment of the old industrial estates within the village, which are not within Green Belt. Rather than amend this paragraph, it may be this can be dealt with within the sites-specific policies for the Strategic Allocation or in para 2.8?
4.Hansteen strongly support this paragraph and consider this offers an opportunity to provide an example of such sites within West Horndon, in the same way as the Green Belt element in para 2.7.
5.The reference to "limited development in villages excluded from the Green Belt with a strategic allocation to be made at West Horndon" is ambiguous, suggesting West Horndon is a village to be excluded from Green Belt? The whole of Hansteen's and Threadneedle's industrial estates are within the village settlement boundary of West Horndon which has never been within the Green Belt. Clearly, the Strategic Allocation also includes land to the north of the industrial estates, outside the village settlement boundary and within Green Belt at present. Further clarification is sought to remove any ambiguity.
6.West Horndon has a range of facilities that makes it comparable to Settlement Category 2 (Village Service Centres, such as schools, some health and retail provision, jobs and excellent rail links). The redevelopment proposed at West Horndon would almost certainly result in improvements to the village's services and facilities that would make it comparable to Ingatestone. Hansteen welcomes the clarification given within Settlement Category 3 about West Horndon offering most scope for such development. We are concerned about potential ambiguity when comparing West Horndon with other Category 3 villages that the LPA considers to be comparable, such as Doddinghurst, Herongate and Ingrave, where large scale housing-led redevelopment would in all likelihood be resisted. Further clarification is sought.
7.Experience has shown that where LPAs fail to meet their objectively-assessed housing need, their Local Plans can be subjected to serious delay at the Examination. Para 14 of the NPPF is clear. We accept the general conclusions offered in the draft LDP about the difficulties in meeting Brentwood's objectively-assessed need, but until the evidence for this is available (eg the forthcoming assessments listed within the evidence), this is a matter of concern.