Comment

Representation ID: 15333

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

On review of the Green Belt boundary Ford are aware of the challenge facing Brentwood BC with regards to allocating land for development - it is apparent that there is considerable pressure on the Green Belt to accommodate such growth. In addition, the Draft Local Plan identifies the requirement to identify land for a further 5,000 new jobs over the plan period, increasing the pressure on Brentwood BC to identify land for development. The need for Brentwood BC to identify additional land for housing and employment is also required in order to address cross-boundary pressures such as London's future growth.
Ford believe that the arrival of Crossrail will also result in an increase in people both living and working in the Borough - therefore placing further pressure on land for development.

Object

Representation ID: 15334

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

Paragraph 2.16 - Ford raises concerns regarding this approach in light of the requirements of Paragraph 158 of the NPPF which requires a local plan to be based upon up-to-date data and relevant evidence. Without key evidence base documents, the Plan will fall short of the requirements of the NPPF, and will be considered 'unsound'. Ford also questions how future employment and housing targets have been established within the consultation document in the absence of a comprehensive, up-to-date evidence base.

Comment

Representation ID: 15335

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

Ford note that the Draft Plan seeks to make provision for 5,000 additional jobs to be provided in the Borough over the Plan period at an annual average rate of 250 jobs per annum. In order to provide for this number of new jobs, Policy 5.3 identifies the need for 32.8 hectares of new employment land within the Borough throughout the Plan period. Ford note that this capacity is met through the identification of a series of new employment land allocations. These allocations collectively provide 32.81 hectares of new employment land.

Object

Representation ID: 15336

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

In March 2015 Ford submitted representations to the joint consultation. At this stage, Ford raised significant concerns regarding this strategic allocation across to the administrative boundaries of the two local authorities. For the reasons set out in the objection to the Dunton Garden Suburb, Ford maintains an objection to the strategic allocation at the Dunton Hills Garden Village due to the perceived wider impact on Ford's operational facility and strategic site at the Dunton Technical Centre in Dunton, Basildon. Ford has also emphasised these concerns in response to the strategic allocation included in the Draft Basildon Borough Council Local Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 15337

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

In March 2015 Ford submitted representations to the joint consultation. At this stage, Ford raised significant concerns regarding this strategic allocation across to the administrative boundaries of the two local authorities. For the reasons set out in the objection to the Dunton Garden Suburb, Ford maintains an objection to the strategic allocation at the Dunton Hills Garden Village due to the perceived wider impact on Ford's operational facility and strategic site at the Dunton Technical Centre in Dunton, Basildon. Ford has also emphasised these concerns in response to the strategic allocation included in the Draft Basildon Borough Council Local Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 15338

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

Ford notes that the land north of its car park (north of Eagle Way), known as the 'Council Depot, The Drive, Warley - site reference 081' has been allocated for residential development.
Ford has assumed that the employment designation to the north of Eagle Way, Warley is retained within the Draft Local Plan. Ford believes that an appropriate policy should be included within the Brentwood Local Plan which provides future flexibility for the redevelopment of this site for range of land uses should the car park become surplus to Ford's requirements during the Plan period.
Should the site become surplus to requirement during the Plan period, then there should be no requirement for Ford to justify the loss of employment on this land as it has not previously been used for employment uses - only ancillary car parking. A more flexible policy wording for Ford's land to the north of Eagle Way may assist in realising or enhancing this development aspiration in future years.

Object

Representation ID: 15339

Received: 05/05/2016

Respondent: Ford Motor Company

Agent: Iceni Projects Limited

Policy maintains the existing employment designation across Ford's landholdings at Eagle Way, Warley. Ford acknowledges the requirement for policies which afford protection to existing employment sites. However, Ford notes that the plan period runs until 2033. Whilst Ford's offices south of Eagle Way are currently operational and form an important location for Ford's finance operations; in the interest of protecting the long-term value and robustness of its operations, Ford requires flexibility in future planning policy to respond to its business needs. As currently drafted, Policy 8.4 does not afford a great level of future flexibility for Ford's landholding.
Ford encourages Brentwood BC to consider a separate policy within the Local Plan which is specific to Ford's site. As such, an appropriate policy should be included within the Brentwood Local Plan that affords a level of flexibility for future employment, residential or mixed-use development should the site become surplus to Ford's operational requirements during the Plan period.