FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

FINAL DRAFT
Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council
Response to Consultation on Brentwood Strategic Growth Options

Assumptions:

1. The six thousand plus building requirement from the Government is fixed.
2. This implies a 20 - 25% growth in Brentwood's population from incomers alone by 2030.
3. The only way that there is any possibility of this huge rate of growth being sustainable is to make an equally huge investment in infrastructure.

It is obvious that piecemeal developments will not make possible any significant income from "106" or similar type commitments making large developments obligatory. Necessary infrastructure improvements would be impossible.

It is equally clear that good quality, productive, agricultural land should be avoided when selecting locations for enormous developments of the type required. If the UK is to grow at this rate, feeding the resident population will become difficult, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.

To apply the above to the situation in Herongate and Ingrave; all of the farm land to the east of the A128 (Brentwood Road) as far as Hutton and Billericay is in current productive use and should be left to help feed the country. Additionally, this agricultural land, particularly if, as seems likely, Brentwood Borough is absorbed into London, will be a part of the greenbelt separating our Borough from Billericay and Wickford. The vast majority of this land has very poor access roads which again would make it very unsuitable for large developments.

Of the remaining option sites in the two villages, all are small. The majority have accessibility problems. However, two sites, one opposite Button Common and the other next to the Ingrave Johnston School, are potentially accessible directly from the Brentwood Road. Were these sites removed from the greenbelt by the LDP process, many reasons would remain for not using either of them.

The Brentwood Road (A128) is heavily loaded and has a bottleneck through Herongate and Ingrave. Gridlock is regularly caused by the various junctions through the villages; Billericay Road and the Petrol Station are good examples. Vetoing any new junctions on the A128 would be an excellent way of not making matters worse. In the event that, as mooted, major developments occur in West Horndon and/or Dunton Garden Suburb then the idea of having additional junctions in the bottleneck becomes ludicrous.

These two sites have another common factor; both form a part of the Thames Chase Woodlands. The designations were formally established between the Borough and the Thames Chase organisation. A commitment was made by the Brentwood Borough Council to act for Thames Chase in protecting the sites from harm as special landscape areas and as wildlife habitats. Both areas are proven to support prolific quantities of wildlife. The site opposite Button Common is a County Wildlife site and the other has recently been subjected to detailed ecological studies for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats providing proof of the prolific presence of many species in each category. We assume that Brentwood Borough would not even consider reneging on such a formal commitment to Thames Chase. Further, the site opposite Button Common is sandwiched between two conservation areas which would be very badly degraded by building a number of blocks of flats there. Similarly, the site between Hillcrest Nursery and Ingrave Johnston School is the last remaining greenbelt area preventing the conjoining of Ingrave and Herongate. These are two separate villages and residents very much wish them to remain so.

RESPONSE MADE VIA OBJECTIVE CONSULTATION PORTAL TO DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB CONSULTATION

RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB STUDY

Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council supports the principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework for the protection of the Green Belt to prevent urban creep. We strongly oppose inappropriate development in the green belt except in very exceptional circumstances where the benefits clearly outweigh the harm and we also support the view that housing need alone does not constitute exceptional benefit

However, we acknowledge the challenge that the Strategic Housing Allocation numbers present to Brentwood Borough Council. We recognise that without clear locations for the necessary houses identified by the Strategic Housing Allocation, Brentwood Borough Council will be highly unlikely to have a robust Local Development Plan approved. That presents the risk of aggressive speculative developers attempting to obtain planning approval anywhere in the borough and that the appeals system could result in inappropriate and poorly coordinated development taking place.

Thus in the unfortunate circumstance where Green Belt does have to be sacrificed in order to meet the statutory obligations of the Strategic Housing Allocation, it is essential that only the minimum amount of land is sacrificed and that this is done in locations and in such a way that harm and urban creep is kept to an absolute minimum.

The Parish would be seeking an assurance that, in arriving at a robust Local Development Plan, the Green Belt around the villages of Herongate and Ingrave, will be confirmed and protected in the long term, to prevent coalescence with surrounding residential areas.

Whilst we readily understand that the current examination by Brentwood Borough Council is an early study, this Council feels the need to identify and highlight the issues that we can foresee will require more thorough examination and subsequent consultation before progress can be safely made.

The Objectively Assessed Housing Needs study is of fundamental importance to this process. Unfortunately there appear to be several flaws in the published description of the study that suggest that the degree of reliance on the present study may well be misplaced.

The various component data sources have very different degrees of currency
In one case the evaluation trend period is both too short and completely atypical
Where individual approaches produce a range, the highest figure has been chosen
The local housing need is the only item having proven relevance and accuracy
The derived housing need is potentially, at a minimum, double, at worst up to six times the actual level.

If the issue of need is put on one side, infrastructure, community requirements, effects on the environment and ecology would be the most significant areas for careful planning.

Highways: The local main roads (A128, A127) have a very major effect on the life of the residents in Herongate and Ingrave. At present the A128 is very heavily loaded during peak hours. Any holdups on the M25 or the A414 have the effect of compounding these problems. A population increase of some 20,000 in the southern parts of the Borough dependent on the A128 for north/south travel would cause gridlock daily. Utilisation of small greenbelt sites within the villages for development, with associated junctions with the A128, could only exacerbate the problem.

Transportation: C2C have announced that they have no plans to build a new station to service any new housing in Dunton. West Horndonstation car park barely copes with present needs. Cross Rail will therefore attract even more vehicular traffic through our Parish. Public transport improvements, desperately needed currently, would be vital as soon as building begins if a dependence on motor vehicles is not to build.

Education: Secondary education would apparently be dependent on existing schools. This would typically mean yet more, peak time, loading on the A128. However it would, in addition, require much development work on the existing secondary schools which are heavily loaded. Primary schools would need to be built in anticipation of the population of the Suburb; there is very little spare capacity in local Primary schools.

Infrastructure: Energy, water, sewerage and communications all fall outside the normal planning process (the Utilities are supposed to fix this) so always run decades behind the real needs of the community. There must be a better way.
Community Infrastructure: General Practice and Hospital facilities are extremely stretched at present. Health centres might be planned for and finance achieved but it seems highly unlikely that the NHS would be able to respond with hospital coverage, for such major growth in local population, in realistic time scales. Home care facilities are extremely scarce today in this area; how much worse it would be if 6000 more homes were built. More general facilities, such as community halls, entertainment, shops, etc. are also vital to the development of a real community.

Environment: Green spaces for both humans and wildlife are essential elements in building a good place to live. Without a thorough consideration of the needs and welfare of both parties in the equation, and appropriate provision for both, it will not be possible to achieve the desired result.

Sustainability: It is a demonstrable fact that major projects such as this rarely generate the funding that a viable community needs. It is even rarer for the vital facilities for sustainability to be provided in a timely manner. The longer the delay in provision, the less sustainable the community will be. For example, the fewer the public transport facilities the greater the dependence on the car; once the habit is ingrained too late provision of public transport will fail. Only thorough planning, strong contracts with developers and proper consultation between interested parties can produce a satisfactory and sustainable project.

RESPONSE MADE VIA OBJECTIVE CONSULTATION PORTAL TO DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB CONSULTATION

RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB STUDY

Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council supports the principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework for the protection of the Green Belt to prevent urban creep. We strongly oppose inappropriate development in the green belt except in very exceptional circumstances where the benefits clearly outweigh the harm and we also support the view that housing need alone does not constitute exceptional benefit

However, we acknowledge the challenge that the Strategic Housing Allocation numbers present to Brentwood Borough Council. We recognise that without clear locations for the necessary houses identified by the Strategic Housing Allocation, Brentwood Borough Council will be highly unlikely to have a robust Local Development Plan approved. That presents the risk of aggressive speculative developers attempting to obtain planning approval anywhere in the borough and that the appeals system could result in inappropriate and poorly coordinated development taking place.

Thus in the unfortunate circumstance where Green Belt does have to be sacrificed in order to meet the statutory obligations of the Strategic Housing Allocation, it is essential that only the minimum amount of land is sacrificed and that this is done in locations and in such a way that harm and urban creep is kept to an absolute minimum.

The Parish would be seeking an assurance that, in arriving at a robust Local Development Plan, the Green Belt around the villages of Herongate and Ingrave, will be confirmed and protected in the long term, to prevent coalescence with surrounding residential areas.

Whilst we readily understand that the current examination by Brentwood Borough Council is an early study, this Council feels the need to identify and highlight the issues that we can foresee will require more thorough examination and subsequent consultation before progress can be safely made.

The Objectively Assessed Housing Needs study is of fundamental importance to this process. Unfortunately there appear to be several flaws in the published description of the study that suggest that the degree of reliance on the present study may well be misplaced.

The various component data sources have very different degrees of currency
In one case the evaluation trend period is both too short and completely atypical
Where individual approaches produce a range, the highest figure has been chosen
The local housing need is the only item having proven relevance and accuracy
The derived housing need is potentially, at a minimum, double, at worst up to six times the actual level.

If the issue of need is put on one side, infrastructure, community requirements, effects on the environment and ecology would be the most significant areas for careful planning.

Highways: The local main roads (A128, A127) have a very major effect on the life of the residents in Herongate and Ingrave. At present the A128 is very heavily loaded during peak hours. Any holdups on the M25 or the A414 have the effect of compounding these problems. A population increase of some 20,000 in the southern parts of the Borough dependent on the A128 for north/south travel would cause gridlock daily. Utilisation of small greenbelt sites within the villages for development, with associated junctions with the A128, could only exacerbate the problem.

Transportation: C2C have announced that they have no plans to build a new station to service any new housing in Dunton. West Horndonstation car park barely copes with present needs. Cross Rail will therefore attract even more vehicular traffic through our Parish. Public transport improvements, desperately needed currently, would be vital as soon as building begins if a dependence on motor vehicles is not to build.

Education: Secondary education would apparently be dependent on existing schools. This would typically mean yet more, peak time, loading on the A128. However it would, in addition, require much development work on the existing secondary schools which are heavily loaded. Primary schools would need to be built in anticipation of the population of the Suburb; there is very little spare capacity in local Primary schools.

Infrastructure: Energy, water, sewerage and communications all fall outside the normal planning process (the Utilities are supposed to fix this) so always run decades behind the real needs of the community. There must be a better way.
Community Infrastructure: General Practice and Hospital facilities are extremely stretched at present. Health centres might be planned for and finance achieved but it seems highly unlikely that the NHS would be able to respond with hospital coverage, for such major growth in local population, in realistic time scales. Home care facilities are extremely scarce today in this area; how much worse it would be if 6000 more homes were built. More general facilities, such as community halls, entertainment, shops, etc. are also vital to the development of a real community.

Environment: Green spaces for both humans and wildlife are essential elements in building a good place to live. Without a thorough consideration of the needs and welfare of both parties in the equation, and appropriate provision for both, it will not be possible to achieve the desired result.

Sustainability: It is a demonstrable fact that major projects such as this rarely generate the funding that a viable community needs. It is even rarer for the vital facilities for sustainability to be provided in a timely manner. The longer the delay in provision, the less sustainable the community will be. For example, the fewer the public transport facilities the greater the dependence on the car; once the habit is ingrained too late provision of public transport will fail. Only thorough planning, strong contracts with developers and proper consultation between interested parties can produce a satisfactory and sustainable project.

RESPONSE MADE VIA OBJECTIVE CONSULTATION PORTAL TO DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB CONSULTATION

RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB STUDY

Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council supports the principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework for the protection of the Green Belt to prevent urban creep. We strongly oppose inappropriate development in the green belt except in very exceptional circumstances where the benefits clearly outweigh the harm and we also support the view that housing need alone does not constitute exceptional benefit

However, we acknowledge the challenge that the Strategic Housing Allocation numbers present to Brentwood Borough Council. We recognise that without clear locations for the necessary houses identified by the Strategic Housing Allocation, Brentwood Borough Council will be highly unlikely to have a robust Local Development Plan approved. That presents the risk of aggressive speculative developers attempting to obtain planning approval anywhere in the borough and that the appeals system could result in inappropriate and poorly coordinated development taking place.

Thus in the unfortunate circumstance where Green Belt does have to be sacrificed in order to meet the statutory obligations of the Strategic Housing Allocation, it is essential that only the minimum amount of land is sacrificed and that this is done in locations and in such a way that harm and urban creep is kept to an absolute minimum.

The Parish would be seeking an assurance that, in arriving at a robust Local Development Plan, the Green Belt around the villages of Herongate and Ingrave, will be confirmed and protected in the long term, to prevent coalescence with surrounding residential areas.

Whilst we readily understand that the current examination by Brentwood Borough Council is an early study, this Council feels the need to identify and highlight the issues that we can foresee will require more thorough examination and subsequent consultation before progress can be safely made.

The Objectively Assessed Housing Needs study is of fundamental importance to this process. Unfortunately there appear to be several flaws in the published description of the study that suggest that the degree of reliance on the present study may well be misplaced.

The various component data sources have very different degrees of currency
In one case the evaluation trend period is both too short and completely atypical
Where individual approaches produce a range, the highest figure has been chosen
The local housing need is the only item having proven relevance and accuracy
The derived housing need is potentially, at a minimum, double, at worst up to six times the actual level.

If the issue of need is put on one side, infrastructure, community requirements, effects on the environment and ecology would be the most significant areas for careful planning.

Highways: The local main roads (A128, A127) have a very major effect on the life of the residents in Herongate and Ingrave. At present the A128 is very heavily loaded during peak hours. Any holdups on the M25 or the A414 have the effect of compounding these problems. A population increase of some 20,000 in the southern parts of the Borough dependent on the A128 for north/south travel would cause gridlock daily. Utilisation of small greenbelt sites within the villages for development, with associated junctions with the A128, could only exacerbate the problem.

Transportation: C2C have announced that they have no plans to build a new station to service any new housing in Dunton. West Horndonstation car park barely copes with present needs. Cross Rail will therefore attract even more vehicular traffic through our Parish. Public transport improvements, desperately needed currently, would be vital as soon as building begins if a dependence on motor vehicles is not to build.

Education: Secondary education would apparently be dependent on existing schools. This would typically mean yet more, peak time, loading on the A128. However it would, in addition, require much development work on the existing secondary schools which are heavily loaded. Primary schools would need to be built in anticipation of the population of the Suburb; there is very little spare capacity in local Primary schools.

Infrastructure: Energy, water, sewerage and communications all fall outside the normal planning process (the Utilities are supposed to fix this) so always run decades behind the real needs of the community. There must be a better way.
Community Infrastructure: General Practice and Hospital facilities are extremely stretched at present. Health centres might be planned for and finance achieved but it seems highly unlikely that the NHS would be able to respond with hospital coverage, for such major growth in local population, in realistic time scales. Home care facilities are extremely scarce today in this area; how much worse it would be if 6000 more homes were built. More general facilities, such as community halls, entertainment, shops, etc. are also vital to the development of a real community.

Environment: Green spaces for both humans and wildlife are essential elements in building a good place to live. Without a thorough consideration of the needs and welfare of both parties in the equation, and appropriate provision for both, it will not be possible to achieve the desired result.

Sustainability: It is a demonstrable fact that major projects such as this rarely generate the funding that a viable community needs. It is even rarer for the vital facilities for sustainability to be provided in a timely manner. The longer the delay in provision, the less sustainable the community will be. For example, the fewer the public transport facilities the greater the dependence on the car; once the habit is ingrained too late provision of public transport will fail. Only thorough planning, strong contracts with developers and proper consultation between interested parties can produce a satisfactory and sustainable project.