Comment

Representation ID: 5480

Received: 16/02/2015

Respondent: Thurrock Borough Council

Thurrock Council at this stage does not consider that all reasonable options to accommodate Brentwood's dwelling requirement within Brentwood have been fully examined by the Council and tested in accordance with government policy and guidance. Therefore the approach to preparation of the local plan is unsound.

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.

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.