Gregory Gray Associates is instructed to write on behalf of our client, Wyevale Garden Centres, in response to the above consultation.

Our client has an interest in Ongar Garden Centre which extends 3.87ha and is accessed from the A128, to the east of the village of Chipping Ongar. Whilst the northern part of the site is subject to flooding, all of the existing garden centre buildings and associated areas of hardstanding which provide parking for a total of 200 cars, are located within Flood Zone 1. A site plan accompanies this correspondence.

The site provides good accessibility to the strategic highway network. It is located within the Green Belt, however due to its highly developed nature and the level of activity currently associated with the lawful use, our client is confident that the site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner entirely consistent with the final bullet point of para. 89 of the NPPF.

It is noted that identified housing and employment needs that have to be accommodated over the Plan period have increased substantially since the Council's earlier Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation. Furthermore, that the capacity of identified, urban, brownfield sites is not sufficient to meet this level of need such that use of Green Belt land to meet identified development needs must be considered.

Whilst our client has not previously submitted their site for consideration by the Council, it is considered to be eminently suitable to meet identified development needs through its allocation for alternative retail, residential, employment or leisure purposes.

Question 3
Our client favours the 'North of the Borough Housing Sites' Option set out in the Consultation document. The re-use of previously developed land as a priority is supported (see Question 6 below) and the redevelopment of our client's site for residential purposes would be entirely consistent with this approach.

The suggestion that "For brownfield sites in the Green Belt, a criteria based policy could be prepared as part of the Local Plan to ensure that only appropriate sites are redeveloped in accordance with national policy" is particularly welcomed.

Question 6
Our client supports the prioritisation of brownfield sites, over greenfield alternatives since such an approach would be entirely consistent with NPPF objectives and would assist the Borough in retaining the extent and open character of the existing Green Belt.

Question 7
It is considered essential that new employment provision is located close to the strategic highway network. Ongar Garden Centre enjoys a high degree of accessibility via the A128, A414 and A12 to the M11 and M25. Its developed nature and the level of vehicular movements associated with the existing retail use means that it offers a suitable site for new employment provision, which could be achieved without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Conclusions
The Council is requested to consider the allocation of Ongar Garden Centre as a suitable site for residential, retail, employment or leisure purposes as part of the current Strategic Growth Options consultation process. The site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner consistent with existing green belt policies and offers an opportunity to contribute towards meeting the Borough's identified development needs without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Furthermore, its allocation would be consistent with an approach which priorities the re-use of existing brownfield sites over greenfield alternatives and our client supports the adoption of such an approach as a means of accommodating strategic growth over the Plan period.

Gregory Gray Associates is instructed to write on behalf of our client, Wyevale Garden Centres, in response to the above consultation.

Our client has an interest in Ongar Garden Centre which extends 3.87ha and is accessed from the A128, to the east of the village of Chipping Ongar. Whilst the northern part of the site is subject to flooding, all of the existing garden centre buildings and associated areas of hardstanding which provide parking for a total of 200 cars, are located within Flood Zone 1. A site plan accompanies this correspondence.

The site provides good accessibility to the strategic highway network. It is located within the Green Belt, however due to its highly developed nature and the level of activity currently associated with the lawful use, our client is confident that the site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner entirely consistent with the final bullet point of para. 89 of the NPPF.

It is noted that identified housing and employment needs that have to be accommodated over the Plan period have increased substantially since the Council's earlier Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation. Furthermore, that the capacity of identified, urban, brownfield sites is not sufficient to meet this level of need such that use of Green Belt land to meet identified development needs must be considered.

Whilst our client has not previously submitted their site for consideration by the Council, it is considered to be eminently suitable to meet identified development needs through its allocation for alternative retail, residential, employment or leisure purposes.

Question 3
Our client favours the 'North of the Borough Housing Sites' Option set out in the Consultation document. The re-use of previously developed land as a priority is supported (see Question 6 below) and the redevelopment of our client's site for residential purposes would be entirely consistent with this approach.

The suggestion that "For brownfield sites in the Green Belt, a criteria based policy could be prepared as part of the Local Plan to ensure that only appropriate sites are redeveloped in accordance with national policy" is particularly welcomed.

Question 6
Our client supports the prioritisation of brownfield sites, over greenfield alternatives since such an approach would be entirely consistent with NPPF objectives and would assist the Borough in retaining the extent and open character of the existing Green Belt.

Question 7
It is considered essential that new employment provision is located close to the strategic highway network. Ongar Garden Centre enjoys a high degree of accessibility via the A128, A414 and A12 to the M11 and M25. Its developed nature and the level of vehicular movements associated with the existing retail use means that it offers a suitable site for new employment provision, which could be achieved without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Conclusions
The Council is requested to consider the allocation of Ongar Garden Centre as a suitable site for residential, retail, employment or leisure purposes as part of the current Strategic Growth Options consultation process. The site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner consistent with existing green belt policies and offers an opportunity to contribute towards meeting the Borough's identified development needs without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Furthermore, its allocation would be consistent with an approach which priorities the re-use of existing brownfield sites over greenfield alternatives and our client supports the adoption of such an approach as a means of accommodating strategic growth over the Plan period.

Gregory Gray Associates is instructed to write on behalf of our client, Wyevale Garden Centres, in response to the above consultation.

Our client has an interest in Ongar Garden Centre which extends 3.87ha and is accessed from the A128, to the east of the village of Chipping Ongar. Whilst the northern part of the site is subject to flooding, all of the existing garden centre buildings and associated areas of hardstanding which provide parking for a total of 200 cars, are located within Flood Zone 1. A site plan accompanies this correspondence.

The site provides good accessibility to the strategic highway network. It is located within the Green Belt, however due to its highly developed nature and the level of activity currently associated with the lawful use, our client is confident that the site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner entirely consistent with the final bullet point of para. 89 of the NPPF.

It is noted that identified housing and employment needs that have to be accommodated over the Plan period have increased substantially since the Council's earlier Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation. Furthermore, that the capacity of identified, urban, brownfield sites is not sufficient to meet this level of need such that use of Green Belt land to meet identified development needs must be considered.

Whilst our client has not previously submitted their site for consideration by the Council, it is considered to be eminently suitable to meet identified development needs through its allocation for alternative retail, residential, employment or leisure purposes.

Question 3
Our client favours the 'North of the Borough Housing Sites' Option set out in the Consultation document. The re-use of previously developed land as a priority is supported (see Question 6 below) and the redevelopment of our client's site for residential purposes would be entirely consistent with this approach.

The suggestion that "For brownfield sites in the Green Belt, a criteria based policy could be prepared as part of the Local Plan to ensure that only appropriate sites are redeveloped in accordance with national policy" is particularly welcomed.

Question 6
Our client supports the prioritisation of brownfield sites, over greenfield alternatives since such an approach would be entirely consistent with NPPF objectives and would assist the Borough in retaining the extent and open character of the existing Green Belt.

Question 7
It is considered essential that new employment provision is located close to the strategic highway network. Ongar Garden Centre enjoys a high degree of accessibility via the A128, A414 and A12 to the M11 and M25. Its developed nature and the level of vehicular movements associated with the existing retail use means that it offers a suitable site for new employment provision, which could be achieved without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Conclusions
The Council is requested to consider the allocation of Ongar Garden Centre as a suitable site for residential, retail, employment or leisure purposes as part of the current Strategic Growth Options consultation process. The site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner consistent with existing green belt policies and offers an opportunity to contribute towards meeting the Borough's identified development needs without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Furthermore, its allocation would be consistent with an approach which priorities the re-use of existing brownfield sites over greenfield alternatives and our client supports the adoption of such an approach as a means of accommodating strategic growth over the Plan period.

Gregory Gray Associates is instructed to write on behalf of our client, Wyevale Garden Centres, in response to the above consultation.

Our client has an interest in Ongar Garden Centre which extends 3.87ha and is accessed from the A128, to the east of the village of Chipping Ongar. Whilst the northern part of the site is subject to flooding, all of the existing garden centre buildings and associated areas of hardstanding which provide parking for a total of 200 cars, are located within Flood Zone 1. A site plan accompanies this correspondence.

The site provides good accessibility to the strategic highway network. It is located within the Green Belt, however due to its highly developed nature and the level of activity currently associated with the lawful use, our client is confident that the site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner entirely consistent with the final bullet point of para. 89 of the NPPF.

It is noted that identified housing and employment needs that have to be accommodated over the Plan period have increased substantially since the Council's earlier Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation. Furthermore, that the capacity of identified, urban, brownfield sites is not sufficient to meet this level of need such that use of Green Belt land to meet identified development needs must be considered.

Whilst our client has not previously submitted their site for consideration by the Council, it is considered to be eminently suitable to meet identified development needs through its allocation for alternative retail, residential, employment or leisure purposes.

Question 3
Our client favours the 'North of the Borough Housing Sites' Option set out in the Consultation document. The re-use of previously developed land as a priority is supported (see Question 6 below) and the redevelopment of our client's site for residential purposes would be entirely consistent with this approach.

The suggestion that "For brownfield sites in the Green Belt, a criteria based policy could be prepared as part of the Local Plan to ensure that only appropriate sites are redeveloped in accordance with national policy" is particularly welcomed.

Question 6
Our client supports the prioritisation of brownfield sites, over greenfield alternatives since such an approach would be entirely consistent with NPPF objectives and would assist the Borough in retaining the extent and open character of the existing Green Belt.

Question 7
It is considered essential that new employment provision is located close to the strategic highway network. Ongar Garden Centre enjoys a high degree of accessibility via the A128, A414 and A12 to the M11 and M25. Its developed nature and the level of vehicular movements associated with the existing retail use means that it offers a suitable site for new employment provision, which could be achieved without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Conclusions
The Council is requested to consider the allocation of Ongar Garden Centre as a suitable site for residential, retail, employment or leisure purposes as part of the current Strategic Growth Options consultation process. The site could be redeveloped for alternative purposes in a manner consistent with existing green belt policies and offers an opportunity to contribute towards meeting the Borough's identified development needs without detriment to the existing character of the area.

Furthermore, its allocation would be consistent with an approach which priorities the re-use of existing brownfield sites over greenfield alternatives and our client supports the adoption of such an approach as a means of accommodating strategic growth over the Plan period.