Comment

Representation ID: 15519

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

In the near future, there could be additional recommendations highlighted in our emerging Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs). Areas within key urban growth areas of Brentwood, Warley, West Horndon, Ingatestone, Pilgrims Hatch, Dunton and Shenfield, including their communities, are dependent upon effective fluvial Flood Risk Management infrastructure (flood embankments, flood and surface water storage areas) to maintain their sustainability and viability both now and into the future.

Comment

Representation ID: 15520

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

To ensure the successful and most efficient delivery of the programme we want to work with partners to maximise 3rd party investment and optimise our investment, in line with DEFRA's flood and coastal resilience partnership funding policy statement. We can't afford to maintain the assets alone and need 3rd party investment to sustain current levels. We also want to deliver integrated flood risk management solutions, including potential habitat creation schemes, that reflect partners' and other parties' aspirations for the riverside. This will require close partnership working between Thurrock, Brentwood, Basildon Councils, the London Borough of Havering as well as ourselves and other key stakeholders as we appraise the options.

Comment

Representation ID: 15521

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

There are many challenges such as future rise in river levels (climate change), highlighted in the consultation, and structural deterioration of existing flood defence assets that the Council should fully appreciate along with the funding challenges to deliver these important infrastructure assets to support viability of these communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 15522

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

The new Brentwood District Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), which is currently proposed for review is a useful supporting document to understand the potential impacts that the flood risk management infrastructure that all Flood Risk Management Authorities including Brentwood District Council and ourselves will need to managed into the future.

Comment

Representation ID: 15523

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

The DEFRA document "Flood and Coastal Resilience Partnership Funding DEFRA policy statement on an outcome-focused, partnership approach to funding flood and coastal erosion risk management" is another useful document to support evidence base with regard to funding deliverability of new and replacement flood defence infrastructure. This is attached. Any new proposals relating to flood defence schemes should draw on the guidelines highlighted in the attached documents.

Comment

Representation ID: 15524

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We would encourage you to also liaise with Essex County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) to identify potential opportunities to reduce and manage surface water flooding.

Support

Representation ID: 15525

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We support this policy, which requires all proposals to maximise energy efficiency, incorporate water conservation measures, and include details of measures to improve resilience to climate change. We are pleased that paragraph 10.27 of the supporting text references the Brentwood Scoping and Outline Water Cycle Study 2011 and recognises that the Borough lies within an area of Serious Water Stress. It also recognises the generally poor water quality of the Borough's watercourses and that, in some areas, sewage infrastructure is already operating at capacity.

Comment

Representation ID: 15526

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

It is encouraging to see the emphasis on protecting green belt land and the promotion of green infrastructure. It is extremely positive that the proposed development allocations will only reduce the Borough's proportion of green belt from 89% to 88%.

Comment

Representation ID: 15527

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We would like to see further information on the development of the proposed enhanced green wedges.

Comment

Representation ID: 15528

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We fully support this policy, which promotes an integrated approach to providing green infrastructure, including using it for open space, recreation, flood risk management, habitat creation, climate change mitigation and water quality improvements. This should be expanded to make reference to realising opportunities to meet the objectives of the Thames and Anglian River Basin Management Plan (RBMPs), for example through protecting and enhancing river corridors or networks of wildlife habitats. It is disappointing that no reference is made to either of the RBMPs as part of the evidence base.