Object

Representation ID: 16087

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

West Horndon as a settlement capable of absorbing significant growth, has been strongly supported in the emerging Local Plan for Brentwood. A significant amount of growth can be focused on the settlement because it is relatively unconstrained by landscape and visual effects, and offers opportunities to mitigate the impacts of development by integrating them into the existing landscape. Green Belt releases are inevitable in the Borough in order to meet OAHN. In a Borough where 89% lies within the Green Belt, land at West Horndon, that has been the subject of years of intensive farming, represents one of the least attractive and lowest amenity parts of the Green Belt that could be released to meet housing and employment needs.

Object

Representation ID: 16108

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

At a very late stage in the preparation of the plan DHGV resulted from a failed attempt at cross boundary development with Basildon to create a large Garden Suburb. DHGV is not a realistic option for strategic growth. The site boundaries and details of the development proposed are not sufficiently distinct to identify the sustainability implications or allow meaningful comparison to be made with the alternatives for growth, such as land at West Horndon.

Object

Representation ID: 16112

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

The DLP and SA to date both confirm the Council's uncertainty regarding the draft strategy for growth proposed and selection of land allocations to deliver this. In places these documents state that the Council remains open to considering matters further and that on-going commissioning and publication of evidence will inform a next iteration of the plan. The latest SA highlights the fact that although the Council appears to be settled on the A127 as the preferred location for strategic growth it is far from decided on a preferred allocation within the transport corridor. Land at West Horndon appears to be favoured when compared against the 'significant
negative effects' anticipated as a result of development at Dunton. For this reason the latest SA states that "uncertainty remains regarding DHGV."

Support

Representation ID: 16114

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

Support is extended in principle to all 13 strategic objectives of the Plan that set out how the Council intends to achieve its vision. In particular we support SO1 and SO2 that confirm how growth will be managed in the Borough. These seek to direct development to the Borough's transport corridors and urban areas, in locations well served by existing and proposed services and facilities.

Object

Representation ID: 16116

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

The government places a strong emphasis on the importance of infrastructure planning. It is therefore unacceptable that the Local plan has been prepared in the absence of an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). Proposed land allocations for strategic growth have been identified in the absence of a proper understanding of the level and distribution of existing infrastructure and where new provision is required.

Object

Representation ID: 16117

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

Government policy as set out in the NPPF (paragraph 52), and consultation on proposed changes in December 2015, extends support for the supply of new homes through larger scale developments such as urban extensions and new settlements. These should be located where they can meet the sustainable development objectives of national policy. hanges to the NPPF seek to ensure that housing is delivered on land allocated in plans and recognises the significant benefits to encouraging development around new and existing commuter hubs - reducing travel distances by private transport, making effective use of private and public sector land in sustainable locations, and helping to secure the wider regeneration and growth of the local area. In this context the government is keen to see higher density housing development around commuter hubs wherever feasible.

Object

Representation ID: 16118

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

An assessment by transport consultants - Odyssey Markides - on behalf of Countryside Properties, shows that the land cannot be accessed by road (Appendix 3). Previous linkages with Basildon Borough and a new station proposed in the adjoining Borough (now abandoned) will no longer make
it accessible via public transport. The site is at high risk of flooding (zone 3). It is questionable, given land required for open space and landscaping, whether there is sufficient capacity to provide 2,500 new homes and other non-residential uses. The recently published study by Crestwood Environmental Limited entitled "Assessment of Potential Housing, Employment and Mixed Use Sites in the Green Belt" (commissioned by BBC), found that out of 203 sites assessed the majority made a 'moderate' contribution to the Green Belt. Only 7 sites were found to make a 'high' contribution and this included land at Dunton. This assessment gives a damning report of land at Dunton, and as national planning policy advises, the Plan requires adjustment in the light of this new evidence.

Object

Representation ID: 16120

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

An assessment by transport consultants - Odyssey Markides - on behalf of Countryside Properties, shows that the land cannot be accessed by road (Appendix 3). Previous linkages with Basildon Borough and a new station proposed in the adjoining Borough (now abandoned) will no longer make it accessible via public transport. The site is at high risk of flooding (zone 3). It is questionable, given land required for open space and landscaping, whether there is sufficient capacity to provide 2,500 new homes and other non-residential uses. The recently published study by Crestwood Environmental Limited entitled "Assessment of Potential Housing, Employment and Mixed Use Sites in the Green Belt" (commissioned by BBC), found that out of 203 sites assessed the majority made a 'moderate' contribution to the Green Belt. Only 7 sites were found to make a 'high' contribution and this included land at Dunton. This assessment gives a damning report of land at Dunton, and as national planning policy advises, the Plan requires adjustment in the light of this new evidence.

Object

Representation ID: 16121

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

In its Autumn Statement the government announced a package of measures to accelerate housebuilding over the next five years. This includes a new 'delivery' test to ensure that housing commitments set out in local plans can be delivered in a reasonable timeframe. This will act as a further threat for under-performing authorities, alongside the implications of failing to identify a five-year supply of deliverable land. The new Local Plan needs to bear this in mind and ensure that it concentrates on growth for the area and that it is focused on the delivery and the practicalities of housing the population.

Object

Representation ID: 16124

Received: 16/05/2016

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Planning Ltd

The SHMA for Brentwood was prepared in 2013 and redated 2014. It does not take account of the latest household projections nor consider an appropriate Housing Market Area. The notion that Brentwood is a self-contained district lacks credibility when the OAN report itself attests to the Borough's strong inter-connectivity with Essex and London. The Borough is located with the London Arc and the construction of Crossrail will only increase this connectivity. The HBF and others consider that Brentwood should be assessed in a joint SHMA with Basildon, Chelmsford and Epping Forest. It is unclear how the Council has engaged with the Mayor of London and the London Boroughs on the matter of migration.