1. This response relates to the changes to Policy R01 (1) (Dunton Hills Garden Village Strategic Allocation).
2. Brentwood Borough Council is an active partner in the Thames Chase Community Forest (TCCF) and in 2014, alongside other partner organisations, accepted and adopted the Thames Chase Plan as the strategy document guiding the creation and development of the area known as the Thames Chase Community Forest. In partnership with others, the Council is therefore committed to achieving the objectives and targets within that plan.
3. The Brentwood Borough Council Local Plan Addendum of Focussed Changes to the Pre-Submission Local Plan should take full account of the Thames Chase Plan. The Council is a key partner and as per item 1 above; adopted the existing Plan in 2014. The Addendum of Focussed Changes should acknowledge the Council's commitment to achieving the objectives and targets within the Thames Chase Plan.
4. The Thames Chase Trust is a member of the Green Infrastructure Working Group and Community Interest Groups for the Dunton Hills Garden Village Development. The Thames Chase Plan has clear synergy with the proposed development and its interaction with people, wildlife and the landscape.
5. Within the Thames Chase Plan, Areas 4 (Thorndon and Warley Woods) and 5 (Havering and Essex Fringe) apply to Brentwood Borough Council. Our five Forest-wide programmes align with the core aims of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Brentwood Borough Council Local Plan (See items below).
6. The Brentwood Borough Council Local Plan references the National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF). Please note that this aligns with the Thames Chase Plan. The NPPF recognises the ongoing role that Community Forests have to play in realising sustainable development. Paragraph 92 of the NPPF states:
Quote:
"Community Forests offer valuable opportunities for improving the environment around towns, by upgrading the landscape and providing for recreation and wildlife. An approved Community Forest plan may be a material consideration in preparing development plans and in deciding planning applications."
Unquote.
7. Consequently, the Thames Chase Plan sets out five Forest-wide programmes of delivery that are in alignment with the core aims of the NPPF: Forestry; Landscape Regeneration; Access; People; Promotion.
8. These five programmes not only encompass woodland and landscape regeneration, but also how that environment needs to be accessed and used by people to support health and wellbeing, education and economic growth. As well as echoing the ambition of the NPPF, the Community Forest Plan can also help strengthen Local Plan policies relating to these themes, supporting development of new Local Plans and development management decisions.
9. The Thames Chase Trust would seek to see reference made to the Thames Chase
Community Forest (TCCF); its importance to the area in and around the emerging
Dunton Hills Garden Village and the diverse range of benefits it has provided to date and has the potential to do so in the future. It would also be beneficial to see a map of the borough, the Dunton Hills Garden Village area and its relationship, in terms of location, with the TCCF area and boundary.
10. The TCCF is closely aligned with the Strategic Objectives identified in the Brentwood Borough Council Local Plan and the Thames Chase Plan supports many of the objectives identified by the Council. The full document can be viewed at: www.thameschase.org.uk. In conclusion, it is very welcome to see clear alignment between the Brentwood Borough Council Local Plan Addendum of Focussed Changes to the Pre-Submission Local Plan and the Thames Chase Plan, however, the Thames Chase Trust would like to see direct reference made to the TCCF within the document, including any supporting documents. The Thames Chase Trust believes that there is more scope to include further references that would acknowledge the
wider range of opportunities provided by the Community Forest, particularly in relation to emerging developments such Dunton Hills Garden Village (Policy R01).
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.