Comment

Representation ID: 12411

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

It is essential that the emerging Local Plan is informed by robust and up to date evidence. We submit that a detailed assessment of housing need is required to take into account a number of adjustments that need to be made including recognition of the likely economic impact of Crossrail. This will result in a housing target considerably in excess of the 360 new homes per annum currently proposed to be met in the consultation paper.

Support

Representation ID: 12412

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

The land at West Horndon represents the preferred location for growth in the A127 corridor when considered against key sustainability issues and objectives. Land to the east of the settlement, in the control of Countryside Properties, has no overriding environmental, technical or landownership constraints and could be delivered within the first five years of the Plan.

There is a strong case for building on the least attractive and lowest amenity parts of the Green Belt at West Horndon to solve the problems of housing supply and affordability in the borough. This is supported by evidence submitted with this representation - Rummey Design. Lane east of West Horndon, Essex - Urban Design, Landscape and Green Belt Assessment; RPS. West Horndon, Essex - An Archaeological Desk. Based Assessment. October 2014; and Richard Graves Associates. West Horndon, Extended Phase I Survey. January 2015.

Comment

Representation ID: 12413

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

The government is placing increasing emphasis on the importance of infrastructure planning.
BBC is preparing an Infrastructure Delivery Plan to understand better current facilities that are in the Borough and to identify where new ones will be needed. This is not yet available to inform the selection of a spatial strategy for growth in the Borough. In the absence of this, we consider that the potential exists at West Horndon to develop land adjacent to the existing settlement that builds upon the strengths of the village and adds to its existing services and facilities. The land is already readily accessible to public transport services and facilities, transport benefits for the existing community can further be maximized by economies of scale.

Object

Representation ID: 12415

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

It is noted that five alternatives were considered by the SA. Potential sites have been identified in Brentwood, Hutton, Pilgrims Hatch, Shenfield and Warley that together comprise 151 hectares of land that might accommodate circa 4,500 new dwellings. Consideration is also given to some 42 sites in the rural area. No explanation is given as to how the potential capacities were derived.

Object

Representation ID: 12470

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

The assessment of the alternatives within the SA is flawed, particularly in terms of air quality; climate change; and community and wellbeing. In relation to transport, the issue of accessibility and limiting the need for vehicular travel is a key consideration. West Horndon has an existing railway station and there is only a proposed station at Dunton. A new station at Dunton is not capable of delivery due to the proximity of other stations, Network Rails technical requirements and viability issues.

Object

Representation ID: 12481

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

In general terms we agree with the SA that options providing larger, more highly concentrated development offers greater potential to provide new community structure through developers contributions.
Whilst large scale developments at these locations would be required to provide services and facilities to serve new homes and jobs, in the case of West Horndon an early phase of growth on land to the east could utilise existing provision which could then be added to and enhanced as the later phases of growth are added. Dunton scores more positively in terms of spare primary school capacity, however we maintain that development of the scale proposed in both options would generate a need for additional schools to meet the demand of new homes.

Comment

Representation ID: 12485

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

In considering matters of biodiversity we confirm that our individual assessment of land east of West Horndon shows that there are sufficient opportunities to enhance the landscape and increase local ecological biodiversity by providing woodland buffer and links to ancient woodland. The broad brush SA is not capable of considering this level of detail.

Comment

Representation ID: 12487

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

An initial review of the SA comparison of sites would appear to rule out options 4 and 5.

Comment

Representation ID: 12489

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

A review of the OAHN for Basildon District similarly points towards a significant increase in growth that is only now beginning to be explored. The Local Plan for Basildon is now delayed and work on technical assessments to provide an evidence base is only just beginning. Proposed development at Dunton if found to be sustainable and achievable could not be delivered for some eight years from planning approval. It is therefore anticipated that first occupations would be unlikely before 2024.

Comment

Representation ID: 12490

Received: 23/04/2015

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

We contend that West Horndon remains the only realistic location in the Borough for a strategic development to cater for jobs and homes that is deliverable in the first part of the Plan period. This is demonstrated in the emerging Consultation document and the Sustainability Appraisal to accompany it. Furthermore, land to the east of the settlement can be delivered early in the plan period.