Object

Representation ID: 15632

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

As detailed above, a SHLAA has not been carried out since 2011. As it stands there is therefore no robust and credible evidence to demonstrate that the land required to provide the Dunton Hills Garden Village is available or suitable for the purpose to which it is proposed, or whether development in this location is achievable (viable). In the absence of such evidence, the proposals for Dunton Hills Garden Village are not supported by evidence, and it is not clear that they are deliverable. Consequently, Basildon Council is clear that without any further evidence to support this proposal Brentwood's Local Plan is unlikely to be sound on the basis of justification and effectiveness.

Object

Representation ID: 15633

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Furthermore, evidence which is available for consideration indicates that the proposal for Dunton Hills Garden Village may not be the most suitable option for meeting the housing needs of Brentwood Borough. The working draft of the Assessment of Potential Housing, Employment and Mixed Use Sites in the Green Belt and their Relative Contribution to the Purposes of the Green Belt Designation study shows that the Dunton Hills Garden Village location (referenced as Site 200) is classed as 'high' in terms of meeting the purposes of the Green Belt when reviewed for both housing and employment delivery. This initial evidence indicates that this area is not the most suitable location in terms of Green Belt impacts and should not be taken forward. It is questioned therefore as to whether this evidence of Green Belt impacts has informed the plan-making process in preparing the Draft Local Plan given that it was published part way through the consultation, and therefore Basildon Borough Council would suggest that further consideration be given to its findings prior to the finalisation of the Brentwood Local Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 15634

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Having regard to the absence of evidence regarding the consideration of this site within a SHLAA, and also the evidence regarding Green Belt impacts set out in the Assessment of Potential Housing, Employment and Mixed Use Sites in the Green Belt and their Relative Contribution to the Purposes of the Green Belt Designation study, Basildon Borough Council cannot support the proposals for Dunton Hills Garden Village as it is not convinced that the proposals are justified, and present a high risk of the Brentwood Local Plan being found unsound.

Object

Representation ID: 15635

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Brentwood Borough Council have an identified need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches within the Essex Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). The Assessment established a need for 84 pitches for the plan period of 2013-2033. It is not clear where all of the proposed Gypsy and Traveller pitches would be located and further evidence of this should be provided. The Brentwood Borough Council Draft Local Plan recognises the recent changes made to national policy relating to Gypsies and Travellers. Policy 7.10 and the supporting text does however detail that following these changes the pitch requirement, as set out in the GTAA (completed in July 2014), may potentially be reduced.

Object

Representation ID: 15637

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Basildon Borough Council has prepared a Gypsy and Traveller Site Potential Study, in order to identify the available supply of land for the provision of pitches for Gypsy and Travellers within Basildon Borough. This assessment was unable to identify sufficient land for such purposes, giving rise to an un-met need of 136 pitches as set out in the Council's Draft Local Plan which is currently out for consultation until 24th March 2016. In progressing their Local Plan, Brentwood Borough Council, as a neighbouring LPA to Basildon, is strongly requested to cooperate with Basildon Borough Council in helping to make provision for this un-met need, and is asked to give further consideration to evidence as to how this un-met need, or a proportion thereof, could be met within the Brentwood Borough area.

Comment

Representation ID: 15638

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Basildon Borough Council will await the forthcoming review of the GTAA for Brentwood Borough Council which is being undertaken during 2016 in light of the national policy changes, and where the level of need for Brentwood Borough Council may be subject to change and potentially be reduced, Basildon Borough Council would ask for assistance in meeting the un-met need arising from Basildon Borough.

Object

Representation ID: 15640

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

It is also noted that within the proposal for Dunton Hills Garden Village a requirement for a 20 pitch site is included. It is good practice that sites should comprise no more than 15 pitches in order to ensure a comfortable environment which would be easier to manage. Brentwood Borough Council should therefore re-consider whether this larger site allocation is the most appropriate.

Object

Representation ID: 15643

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Basildon Borough Council are generally supportive of the approach Brentwood has taken to identifying its employment land and job requirements. However, it is noted that the evidence only looks to 2030. Consideration should be given, at the least to annualising the employment requirement for the remainder of the plan period, or else looking to update the evidence base regarding employment and retail needs to cover the remainder of the plan period.

Object

Representation ID: 15644

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Basildon Borough Council do not however support the proposed location of new employment within the Dunton Hills Garden Village as set out in the above corresponding section, this area of land was not put forward in the call for sites and the land within the Green Belt is currently rated a 'high' in the Assessment of Potential Housing, Employment and Mixed Use Sites in the Green Belt and their Relative Contribution to the Purposes of the Green Belt Designation when considering the purposes of land within the Green Belt.

Object

Representation ID: 15645

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Basildon Borough Council

Brentwood Borough Council have set out to locate their employment land close to the strategic highway network. As detailed above a SHLAA does not appear to have been carried out since 2011, therefore the required changes to review economic land as part of the process have not been recently assessed along with any other form of review of suitable, available and achievable employment land. Consequently there has not been any evidence produced to inform the selection of employment sites for inclusion in the Local Plan. The suitability and availability of such sites is not therefore justified by the evidence currently available. Consequently, further evidence to justify the Dunton Hills Garden Village employment location, amongst others, is required.