brentwood.gov.uk

Comment

Representation ID: 5506

Received: 16/02/2015

Respondent: Thurrock Borough Council

Thurrock Council suggests that the potential impact of large scale developments on the A127 Corridor is more significant than stated by Brentwood Council.
The impact of development on the landscape depends on the size and scale of the development and the sensitivity of the landscape. It also depends on the level that any landscape character assessment is undertaken.

The fenland area around the A127 has been recognised by the Thames Chase Heritage Lottery Fund as a 'distinctive landscape character worth conservation' and has been identified by the CPRE as a nationally significant area of tranquillity in the metropolitan greenbelt.

The urban areas are set back from view by steep slopes. It is highly likely from the outcomes of landscape capacity studies that any development greater than discreet infill plots would significantly harm the landscape character.

The Brentwood section of the Mid Essex Landscape Character Assessment does not assess different scales of development.

The larger fenland landscape character area would be affected by any further development. It is considered that development of the scale of the Dunton Garden Suburb or an extension east of West Horndon will significantly harm the open rural character of the broad fenland and the setting of rolling farmland and wooded hills of Thurrock.