Historic Environment Comment -
Constraint: Archaeological potential for the historic core of Brentwood

Historic Environment Comment -
Constraint: Roman Road runs through site

Historic Environment Comment -
Given its intentionally prominent location within the landscape, this allocation also needs to consider the setting of the Church of All Saints located to the north of the A127
Constraint: Setting of East Horndon Hall and the setting and views of the church to the north of the A127

Historic Environment Comment -
The site will completely surround Dunton Hills, with the potential to cause substantial harm to the heritage asset as per paragraph 133 of the NPPF (dependent on the contribution which its setting makes to its significance). It also heavily intrudes on the setting of Dunton Hall and the Church of St. Mary, which read as an historic church hall complex, the isolated setting of which makes an important contribution to their significance.
Constraint: Historic Church Hall complex on boundary will impact on setting. Likely to contain further extensive archaeological deposits

Green Infrastructure -

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a network of multi-functional high quality green spaces and other environmental features, (such as street trees, green roofs and walls, which together deliver multiple environmental, social and economic benefits , that contribute to the quality, attractiveness and distinctiveness of the Borough. A number of the site allocations do not mention the opportunities to enhance the GIs, and ECC seek clarity on how GIs will be integral to all site allocations (including those for commercial and educational developments).

The Forestry Commission produced a report on the economic value of Green Infrastructure. Within this report it states that the perceptions of a region can be a barrier to recruitment for businesses within that region, especially in relation to highly qualified staff. However, high quality GIs will have a benefit on people's health, wellbeing, quality of life and contribute to improved educational capability. The investment into maintenance and creation of high quality GIs can act to encourage and attract commercial industry, entrepreneurs and workers to that region.

A strong example of this is from the north of England, that of Riverside Park Industrial Estate in Middlesbrough where investment in the GI of the park created a setting for stimulating business growth and investment. The redeveloped site attracted new, high profile, occupants and saw occupancy grow from 40% to 78%, and levered over £1 million of private investment (CLES/Groundwork, 2007)

Every development has the potential to enhance and create new GI and contribute to creating green corridors for better connectivity of the GI network. Therefore, ECC recommend that there should be a consideration for new housing and commercial development to have reasonable access and distance to green spaces and which includes the requirement to create new green spaces. Natural England produced a guide to help decision makers to ensure that everyone has access to good quality natural greenspace near to where they live and work. Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) recommends for example green space of at least 2 hectares in size, no more than 300 metres (5 minutes' walk) from home and one accessible 100 hectare site within five kilometres of home. Another example is Bristol City which has put in place a distance standard to protect and promote an accessible network of green space, based on research with residents and layout to ensure credibility, including requiring a distance to the nearest green space of 400 metres or 9 minutes' walk, and natural green space within700 metres 18 minutes' walk etc. (Bristol's Parks and Green Space Strategy, 2008).

ECC welcomes the opportunity to engage with BBC to ensure that GI is imbedded in its Draft Plan.

ECC advises that developers of new sites with more than 30 premises can obtain free Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) provided by both BT Openreach and Virgin Media, giving access to ultrafast broadband speeds.

ECC advises that the Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMOTS) produced by ECC should be included within the evidence base. This strategy outlines the steps the authority are taking to enable accessibility to places of employment and education for all, including other neighbourhood services such as retail and leisure; with the associated health, social and economic benefits to them and their communities. The adoption of this Strategy provides the framework for the Council and its partners to co-ordinate the provision of services and infrastructure to achieve its objectives.

ECC recommends that the Essex Design Guide 2018 is referenced within the Draft Plan, and consideration given to embedding its principles into any design policies and supporting text, as the Draft Plan progresses to its pre-submission stage.

Figure 12 - It would appear that most of the areas identified for Registered Care are reasonably well located in terms of access to bus services, which is positive. Similar attention to detail should be employed when considering the locating of affordable homes, which are another group that proportionally tend to rely more heavily on bus services.

ECC Interest in the Draft Local Plan Preferred Site Allocations Consultation -

Essex County Council (ECC) supports the preparation of a new Local Plan for BBC. A Local Plan by setting out a specific vision and policies for the long-term planning and development of the borough can provide a platform from which to secure a sustainable economic, social and environmental future to the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors. A robust long-term strategy will provide a reliable basis on which ECC and its partners may plan future service provision and required community infrastructure for which they are responsible. ECC will also use its best endeavours to assist on strategic and cross-boundary matters under the duty to cooperate, including engagement and co-operation with other organisations for which those issues may have relevance.

ECC aims to ensure that local policies and related strategies provide the greatest benefit to deliver a buoyant economy for the existing and future population that live, work, visit and invest in Essex. As a result ECC is keen to understand, inform, support and help refine the formulation of any development strategy and policies delivered by Local Planning Authorities. Involvement is necessary and beneficial because of ECC's roles as:
a. a key partner within Greater Essex, promoting economic growth, regeneration, infrastructure delivery, Garden Communities and sustainable new development;
b. provider and commissioner of a wide range of local government services throughout the county;
c. the highway and transport authority, including responsibility for the delivery of the Essex Local Transport Plan; Local Education Authority including early years and childcare; Minerals and Waste Planning Authority; Lead Local Flood Authority; lead advisors on public health; and adult social care in relation to securing the right housing mix which takes account of the housing needs of older people; and
d. as an infrastructure funding partner, that seeks to ensure that the proposals are realistic and do not place an unnecessary (or unacceptable) cost burden on the public purse, and specifically ECC's Capital Programme.