brentwood.gov.uk

Comment

Representation ID: 5508

Received: 16/02/2015

Respondent: Thurrock Borough Council

Thurrock Council considers the approach set out in the Interim Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is flawed and that a number of assumptions on the way that options have been scored is not supported by the available evidence. The SA appraises development on the basis that most development will be in one location at a strategic scale. Whilst this may be useful as an initial approach, it is considered that actual development may result in a hybrid option. A hybrid option may well moderate the scoring and impact of development in these locations therefore giving more positive of negative scores rather than a large scale concentration of development.

A new option should be considered including development north and east south east of Brentwood/Shenfield, or option 3 should be modified.

Some of the scoring for the options in the SA has been based on assumptions. It is unclear why option 1 would score so highly in relation to sustainable transport, given the high level of uncertainty over the deliverability of a railway station for Dunton.

It is uncertain whether the benefits of improved accessibility brought about by Crossrail and longer term the A12 widening are taken into account.

The landscape scoring for West Horndon is too positive as a large scale development would have a significant impact on the landscape.

The scoring of the development options in relation to community and social infrastructure tends to overstate the benefits for new strategic developments without evidence being provided. Conversely the SA understates the ability of existing locations to gain improved and additional capacity in infrastructure.