New Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan: Modified Pre-submission Plan (Regulation 19)
Sustainability Appraisal (SA): Annex B – Baseline Information – September 2020
Page 2 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
Page 3 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
Contents
1. Introduction 6 1.1 Background 6
1.2 Baseline Information 6
2. Economy and Employment 7 2.1 Economy 7
2.2 Employment 10
2.3 Employment & Retail 13
2.4 Hotel Needs Review, Castle Point Borough Council, August 2010 16
2.3 Infrastructure 18
2.4 Summary 20
3. Housing 21 3.1 Housing Supply 21
3.2 Existing Housing Stock 22
3.3 Housing need – Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2020 23
3.4 Homelessness 25
3.5 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation 26
3.6 Summary 29
4. Population and Society 30 4.1 Population 30
4.2 Education 33
4.3 Quality of Life 37
4.4 Summary 45
5. Health and Wellbeing 46 5.1 Life Expectancy and Health 46
5.2 Physical Activity and Open Space 47
5.3 General Health of the District 48
5.4 Summary 49
6. Transport and Connectivity 50 6.1 Modes and Flows of Travel 50
6.3 Road Safety 58
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6.4 Summary 59
7. Cultural Heritage 60 7.1 Recorded Archaeological Sites and Finds in Castle Point Borough 60
7.2 Listed Buildings & Conservation Area 61
7.3 Heritage at risk 62
7.4 Scheduled Ancient Monuments 62
7.5 Historic Parks and Gardens 62
7.6 Summary 62
8. Biodiversity and Nature Conservation 63 8.1 Biodiversity Action Plan 63
8.2 Designated Sites 63
8.3 Green / Blue Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services 67
8.4 Biodiversity Net Gain 68
8.5 Summary 69
9. Landscapes 70 9.1 Landscape Features 70
9.2 Agricultural Land Classification 73
9.3 Previously Developed Land 74
9.4 Summary 75
10. Water Environment 76 10.1 Water Courses 76
10.2 Water Quality 76
10.3 Flood Risk 77
10.4 Summary 79
11. Climate and Energy 80 11.1 Energy Consumption and Emissions 80
11.2 Climate Change 83
11.3 Summary 84
12. Air 85 12.1 Air Quality 85
12.2 Noise 87
12.3 Summary 88
13. Material Assets (including soil, minerals and waste) 89 13.1 Local Authority Collected Waste 89
13.2 Transfer Facilities 89
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13.3 The Replacement Waste Local Plan for Essex and Southend-on-Sea 90
13.4 Waste Miles 91
13.5 Anaerobic Digestion (AD) 91
13.6 Commercial and Industrial Waste (CD&I) 91
13.7 Construction, Demolition and Evacuation Waste (CD&E) 91
13.8 Summary 92
14. Minerals 93 14.1 The Adopted Minerals Local Plan 2014 93
14.2 Summary 94
Page 6 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
Castle Point Borough Council commissioned Place Services of Essex County Council to undertake an independent Sustainability Appraisal (SA) for the Castle Point Local Plan. This Report is the baseline annex to the main SA Environmental Report.
1.2 Baseline Information
The SEA Directive requires the production of the following information:
“The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme;” Annex 1(b);
“The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected;” Annex 1(c); and
“Any existing problems which are relevant to the plan or programme including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance such as areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/ECC” Annex 1(d).
The baseline information identifies current sustainability issues and problems in the Plan Area which should be addressed and provides a basis for predicting and monitoring the effects of implementing the document. To ensure the data collected was relevant and captured the full range of sustainability issues, it was categorised under 13 thematic topics. They cover all the topics referred to in Annex 1(f) of the SEA Directive and follow the order of:
• Economy and employment
• Housing
• Population and society
• Health and wellbeing
• Education
• Transport and connectivity
• Cultural heritage
• Biodiversity and nature conservation
• Landscapes
• Water
• Climate and energy
• Air
• Waste, soils and minerals
Page 7 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
2. Economy and Employment
2.1 Economy
Essex contributed more than £31bn to the national economy in 2015 (Essex Organisation Strategy 2017- 2021)1. Castle Point has the highest rate of economic activity at 81.5% compared to the county, region and country. The rate of economic activity within Castle Point has seen an increase of 0.9% on the previous year, as shown in the table below.
Table 1: Economic activity
East of Castle Point Essex Great Britain England
Number of economically active 43,900 751,300 3,164,000 33,485,000
Percentage of the population 81.5% 81.2% 80.8% 78.5% economically active
Job density 0.52 0.77 0.83 0.84
Source: NOMIS Labour Supply (January 2017 – December 2017)
Table 2: Business registration and de-registration rate
Castle Point Essex East of England Great Britain
Birth 530 8,915 35,400 408,420
Death 450 7,520 29,965 322,460
All active enterprises 3,715 69,240 287,540 2,775,940
Source: ONS, Business Demography 2016 (Released November 2017)
There has been a slight increase in the number of active businesses in Castle Point due to a higher rate of registrations (births) than de-registrations (deaths). Compared to sub-national and national figures the district has experienced a higher start up rate and a lower de-registration rate indicating a more robust local economy.
1 Essex Organisation Strategy 2017-2021
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Table 3: UK Business Counts
Castle Point Essex East
Numbers % Numbers % Numbers %
Enterprises
Micro (0 to 9) 3,025 92.4 57,680 90.0 244,305 90.0
Small (10 to 49) 210 6.4 5,370 8.4 22,260 8.2
Medium (50 to 249) 35 1.1 860 1.3 3,835 1.4
Large (250+) 5 0.2 195 0.3 945 0.3
Total 3,275 64,110 271,335
Local Units
Micro (0 to 9) 3,190 89.1 62,005 86.0 266,175 85.7
Small (10 to 49) 325 9.1 8,295 11.5 36,150 11.6
Medium (50 to 249) 55 1.5 1,605 2.2 7,345 2.4
Large (250+) 5 0.1 200 0.3 1,015 0.3
Total 3,580 72,110 310,685
Source: NOMIS Labour Supply (2017)
In general, local based businesses are more prevalent within the Borough than in the county and comparatively more when compared to the national figure. Nearly three quarters of all local businesses within the Borough employ 4 or less people and approximately 6% employ more than 20 people. There has been an increase for Micro and Small enterprises within Castle Point of 72% which equates to 90 more small sized enterprises in 2016 compared to 20122.
Table 4: Proportion of businesses by industry type
Industry Castle Point Essex East of Great Britain England
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 10 (0.3%) 2,185 (3.4%) 11,960 (4.4%) 129,965 (5.0%)
Production 215 (6.6%) 3,980 (6.2%) 15,310 (5.6%) 144,045 (5.5%)
Construction 900 (27.5%) 11,745 (18.3%) 38,980 (14.4%) 310,175 (11.9%)
Motor Trades 105 (3.2%) 2,020 (3.2%) 8,370 (3.1%) 72,570 (2.8%)
2 Essex Employment and Skills Board: Evidence Base District Profile 2017-18
Page 9 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
Industry Castle Point Essex East of Great Britain England
Wholesale 105 (3.2%) 2,750 (4.3%) 11,020 (4.1%) 100,300 (3.9%)
Retail 220 (6.7%) 3,990 (6.2%) 17,195 (6.3%) 190,960 (7.4%)
Transport & Storage (Including 165 (5.0%) 2,510 (3.9%) 13,955 (5.1%) 106,990 (4.1%) Postal)
Accommodation & Food Services 2,770 (4.3%) 12,600 (4.6%) 146,445 (5.6%) 150 (4.6%)
Information & Communication 200 (6.1%) 4,920 (7.7%) 21,805 (8.0%) 215,240 (8.3%)
Finance & Insurance 55 (1.7%) 1,215 (1.9%) 4,720 (1.7%) 54,590 (2.1%)
Property 90 (2.7%) 2,140 (3.3%) 8,775 (3.2%) 91,105 (3.5%)
Professional, Scientific & Technical 485 (14.8%) 10,890 (17.0%) 47,130 (17.4%) 473,260 (18.2%)
Business Administration & Support 250 (7.6%) 5,325 (8.3%) 26,350 (9.7%) 225,780 (8.7%) Services
Public Administration & Defence 0 225 (0.4%) 1,285 (0.5%) 7,110 (0.3%)
Education 60 (1.8%) 1,195 (1.9%) 4,895 (1.8%) 47,655 (1.8%)
Health 100 (3.1%) 2,600 (4.1%) 11,240 (4.1%) 117,295 (4.5%)
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and 165 (5.0%) 3,650 (5.7%) 15,750 (5.8%) 164,610 (6.3%) Other Services
Total 3,275 64,110 271,340 2,598,095
Source: ONS, 2017 data
There are comparatively more businesses within construction within the district than the county but noticeable fewer businesses within agriculture, forestry & fishing. In Castle Point, the highest number of jobs is in the public sector at 29% and Greater Essex has highest number of jobs in distribution, transport, accommodation & food at 21.2% (although this is one of the sectors that are seeing the slowest growth)3. In Castle Point, total employment figures are at 45,585 which are 5.2% of Greater Essex total in 2015.
3 Enterprising Essex: Opportunities and Challenges 2017
Page 10 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
2.2 Employment
According to the Economic Plan for Essex4, between 2008 and 2012 there was an increase in the number of businesses in Essex by over 9,000. Essex has a few challenges with regards to the labour market. The Economic Plan (2014) states that 8.5% of Essex residents have no qualifications and only 28% hold higher level (level 4) qualifications.
Table 5: Employment and unemployment
Castle Point Essex East of England Great Britain
In employment 43,400 (81.5%) 77.9% 80.8% 78.4%
Unemployed 1,400 (3.2%) 3.9% 3.6% 4.4%
Source: NOMIS, January 2017 – December 2017 data
81.5% of the working population in Castle Point Borough are in employment which is higher than sub-national and national employment levels. The proportion of the Borough’s working population who are economically active but unemployed is 3.2% which is below sub-national and national unemployment figures.
Table 6: Economically active population unemployed
Castle Point Essex East of England Great Britain
Economically active 3.2% 3.9% 3.6% 4.4% and unemployed
Out of work benefits 1.2% 1.3% 1.3% 1.9%
Source: NOMIS Jan 2017 – Dec 2017 data
Castle Point has a lower number of people who are of an economically active age but are unemployed when compared to the county, regional and national average. The percentage of the population claiming out of work benefits is also lower, but only marginally.
4 Economic Plan for Essex 2014
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Table 7: Employment by occupation
Castle Point Essex East of Great Britain England
SOC 2010 major group 1-3 37.3% 45.4% 46.1% 45.7%
1 Managers, directors and senior 12.7% 13.7% 11.9% 10.9% officials
2 Professional occupations # 16.5% 19.4% 20.3%
3 Associate professional & 17.7% 15.2% 14.7% 14.4% technical
SOC 2010 major group 4-5 27.6% 22.8% 21.4% 20.8%
4 Administrative & secretarial 14.8% 11.8% 10.9% 10.3%
5 Skilled trades occupations 12.7% 10.9% 10.4% 10.3%
SOC 2010 major group 6-7 13.1% 16.6% 16.4% 16.7%
6 Caring, leisure and Other # 9.4% 9.2% 9.1% Service occupations
7 Sales and customer service occs # 7.2% 7.2% 7.5%
SOC 2010 major group 8-9 22.1% 15.1% 16.1% 16.9%
8 Process plant & machine # 5.7% 6.3% 6.3% operatives
9 Elementary occupations # 9.4% 9.8% 10.5%
Source: NOMIS, Jan 2017 – Dec 2017 data
# Sample size too small for reliable estimate
! Estimate is not available since sample size is disclosive
- The sample size is too small to allow data to be produced
Notes: Numbers and % are for those of 16+ % is a proportion of all persons in employment
Page 12 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
The majority of jobs within the district and across all areas are in Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) 2010 major group 1-3, consisting of managers and professionals. For the district this accounts for 37.3% of all employee jobs. Two other industries in the district provide a higher proportion of employee jobs compared to the sub-national and national equivalent these are SOC 2010 major group 4-5 and SOC 2010 major group 8-9, while the rest of the sectors are lower than the Essex, regional and national levels. The number of jobs has been expected to decrease from 2016 onwards by 0.4% compared to an increase of 2.8% across the whole of Essex (A Profile of people living in Castle Point 2016)5.
Table 8: Gross weekly pay by residence and workplace
Castle Point Essex East of England Great Britain
Gross weekly pay by residence
Full time workers £631.6 £593.6 £574.9 £552.7
Male full time £701.5 £643.9 £622.9 £594.2 workers
Female full time £497.9 £524.1 £502.1 £494.4 workers
Gross weekly pay by workplace
Full time workers £476.3 £550.0 £545.5 £552.3
Male full time # £582.6 £587.5 £593.1 workers
Female full time # £489.2 £478.4 £494.0 workers
Source: NOMIS, 2017 data
Residents of the district in full-time employment on average earn a weekly salary of £631.60 which is considerably higher than the UK average and above that of the region and county. A breakdown of salaries shows that male residents earn considerably more at £701.50 than their female counterpart, with females earning less than the UK average.
Weekly salaries for those working in full-time employment within the district are lower than salaries of district residents at £476.3, which is considerably lower than other areas. Businesses within the East of England region in general pay lower salaries than UK as a whole. Overall, weekly salaries within the district are lower than the county and national average. The largest sector of employment within Castle Point is construction, seeing an overall
5 A profile of people living in Castle Point 2016
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increase of 119% between 2012 and 2016. Three of the seven priority sectors in Castle Point saw an increase between 2011 and 2015; Construction, Care and Health. In comparison with the other districts within Essex, Castle Point ranks last for the total number of vacancies for priority sector jobs.
2.3 Employment & Retail
Figure 1: Gross Land Requirements to 2031
Source: Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners analysis, 2012
Table 9: Gross Land Requirement by Scenario (ha)
Use
Scenario Offices (B1) Industrial (B1c/B2/B8) All B uses
Job Growth (Experian) 2.1 -0.6 1.5
Job Growth (EEFM) 2.5 0.3 2.7
Past Development Rates 2.2 3.5 5.7
SNPP 0.3 2.6 2.9
Migration-Led 0 0.1 0.1
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Use
Scenario Offices (B1) Industrial (B1c/B2/B8) All B uses
Approved RSS 0 -0.3 -0.3
AMR Dwelling Target -0.2 -1.4 -1.6
Net Nil Migration -0.4 -3.3 -3.7
Economic Growth 0.6 4.4 4.9
Source: Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners analysis, 2012
Table 10: Convenience Goods Retail Floor space Projections
Location Additional Retail Floor space sq. m Net
2012-2021 2021-2026 2026-2031 Total 2012-31
Canvey 1,199 199 226 1,624
Hadleigh 859 127 144 1,130
South Benfleet 423 35 39 497
Tarpots n/a n/a n/a n/a
Stadium Way n/a n/a n/a n/a
Other Castle Point n/a 13 14 27
Total 2,481 374 423 3,278
Source: Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, 2012
Table 11: Comparison Goods Retail Floor space Projections
Location Additional Retail Floor space sq. m Net
2012-2021 2021-2026 2026-2031 Total 2012-31
Canvey 961 580 690 2,230
Hadleigh 1,948 372 443 2,763
South Benfleet 131 108 129 368
Stadium Way 280 1,117 1,331 2,728
Other Castle Point 94 78 93 265
Total 3,414 2,255 2,686 8,353
Source: Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, 2012
When considering leisure expenditure available to households, spending on food and drink typically account for
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more than 50% of total leisure spending, compared to around 15% on ‘cultural services’ (e.g. going to the cinema, theatre, art galleries or live music) and under 10% on hotels, games of chance and recreation/sporting services6. An overview of retail provision in Castle Point is as follows:
- Canvey Island is the largest town in Castle Point and contains the largest amount of retail floorspace;
- Hadleigh has a high proportion floorspace due to the presence of three large food stores;
- South Benfleet contains a relatively large proportion of comparison floorspace and relatively strong food and drink offer; and
- Tarpots is the smallest of the centres in Castle Point and contains a large proportion of convenience floorspace.
According to the South Essex Economic Needs Assessment7, in response to the poor stick of employment premises, Castle Point intends to create 4ha of new employment land close to the strategic road network.
FIGURE ? South Essex Economic Activity and Employment (%) 2011
Source: ONS, 20168
6 South Essex Retail Study; Volume 1 – Main Report 2017 7 South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment – Final Report, 2017e 8 South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment – Final Report, 2017
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2.4 Hotel Needs Review, Castle Point Borough Council, August 2010
Table 12: Table of Essex Hotel Supply by District.
District 4 star 3 star 2 star Budget Not Total Inspected
H R H R H R H R H R H R
Basildon x x 1 148 x x 6 337 x x 7 485
Braintree x x 3 128 x x 4 223 4 60 11 411
Brentwood 2 129 1 149 x x 2 167 2 29 7 474
Castle x x x x x x x x 1 40 1 40 Point
Chelmsford 1 39 5 232 2 48 3 252 3 64 14 635
Epping 1 1620 1 79 x x 4 244 5 99 11 584 Forest
Harlow x x 3 259 x x 2 171 1 40 6 470
Maldon 1 194 x x x x 4 76 5 270
Rochford x x 2 56 x x 1 50 x x 3 106
Southend- x x 5 253 x x 3 179 x x 8 432 on-Sea
Tendring x x 2 27 3 64 4 224 11 219 20 534
Thurrock 1 34 1 97 x x 5 458 6 221 13 810
Uttlesford 4 879 4 184 x x 3 406 9 230 20 1699
Essex 11 1547 35 1930 6 136 38 2731 47 1091 137 7435 TOTAL
TGSE 1 34 9 554 0 0 15 1024 6 221 32 1873 TOTAL
H = Hotels
R = Rooms
TGSE Districts are bold
Source: Castle Point – Hotel Needs Review, 2010. Figures from: Hotel Solutions, (2009), “Essex Hotel Futures – Report to Participating Hotels”.
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Table 13: Charting showing Room Occupancy and Achievement Rate in Essex (2007-2009 Figures)
Location/ Average Annual Room Occupancy (%) Average Annual Achievement Room Rate/ Standard of per night (£) Hotel 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009
UK Provisional 71.3 70.2 69.0 72.28 72.91 68.89 ¾ star Chain Hotels
Essex ¾ star 68.0 64.1 61.3 67.77 68.03 62.30 Hotels
Essex 4 star 69.3 63.3 60.6 74.17 75.64 67.98 Hotels
Essex 3 star 66.7 64.9 62.0 61.60 61.14 59.00 Hotels
Essex Budget 78.5 77.0 70.8 n/a n/a n/a Hotels
Source: Castle Point – Hotel Needs Review, 2010. Figures from: Hotel Solutions, (2009), “Essex Hotel Futures – Report to Participating Hotels”.
Hotel supply has steadily increased in the sub-region. Figures collected by Hotel Solutions in 2009 indicated that the trend of hotel supply in the county, favours budget and 3-star hotels. The 2007-2009 data shows that budget hotels outperform 3-4 star brand chain hotels in occupancy rates.
The STUDY highlights trends regarding hotel occupancy:
- achieved room rates are much higher for 4 star than 3 star hotels, but still below the target levels sought by 4 star hotel operators (£80-90) in most parts of the county;
- in line with the national trend, Essex 3/4 star hotel occupancies and achieved room rates have dropped sharply in 2009, this is as a result of the recession and the downturn that has resulted in midweek corporate and residential conference business and rates. Weekend occupancies have however generally held up well;
- Midweek occupancies are generally fairly steady throughout the year; this may be due to the hotels being used by migratory workers visiting the county, rather than holiday makers;
- Weekend leisure break demand is limited, other than for hotels in Southend-on-Sea, Clacton-on- Sea and to some extent Colchester. Leisure break demand in South-on-Sea is primarily just for Saturday night, resulting in high refusal rates due to hotels being at maximum capacity;
- Some of the larger 3 and 4 star hotels in Essex attract UK and overseas group tours at weekends. These are primarily using them as a base for visiting London, so other than the money they spend in the hotel, a small percentage end up in the Essex economy;
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- Most 3/4 star hotels in Essex expect occupancies and room rate to remain relatively static in 2010.
Some hotels expect occupancies to begin to improve in the second half of the year;
- Very few hotels expect to see any growth in achieved room rates in 2010, but few hotels anticipate any further decrease.
2.4.1 Castle Point
Table 14: Chart showing 2009 hotel supply in major urban centres within close proximity to Castle Point
District Total (2009) Total (Proposed) Total (after development)
Hotels Rooms Hotels Rooms* Hotels Rooms*
Basildon 7 485 2 168 9 653
Southend-on- 8 432 7 594 15 1026 Sea
Rochford 3 106 - - 3 106
Thurrock 13 810 - - 13 810
Chelmsford 14 635 3 230 17 865
TOTAL 45 2468 12 992 57 3460
*Not including rooms from hotels which have not disclosed proposed room numbers: therefore these figures are set to increase.
Source: Castle Point – Hotel Needs Review, 2010. Figures from: Hotel Solutions, (2009), “Essex Hotel Futures – Report to Participating Hotels”.
Based upon evidence, the hotel trend is likely to continue at the regional and borough level. Hotels proposed in neighbouring authorities were predicted to meet any demand for the heavily requested cheap mid-week stays. These factors indicated that a hotel within the borough itself was still unnecessary. If hotel developments were required, then it is suggested that they would be incorporated into mixed use developments.
2.3 Infrastructure
2.3.1 Castle Point: Transport Evidence for the New Local Plan – Transport Phase 1 (URS, 2013)
URS was appointed by Castle Point Borough Council to prepare transport evidence in connection with their emerging New Local Plan. The purpose is to consider the impact of local plan development options which are being considered on the local highway network.
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Table 15: Summary of recommendations
Recommendation Time - scale
Each site allocation, in advance of seeking a planning consent, should prepare an access On – going strategy as a consideration toward mitigation
For each site allocation, as part of the planning application process, transport assessments On – going should be prepared to appraise the detailed forecast impact of the scheme.
Cumulative effects should be considered as part each access strategy and transport On – going assessment to inform mitigation requirements and CIL / contributions.
All new developments should prepare a travel plan as part of their planning applications On – going and then deliver those plans as part of the implementation of the development schemes.
To take forward the concept designs and progress design work, as appropriate. Further Short – term design work, Stage 1 Road Safety Audits and detailed costing work by an independent Quantity Survey should be undertaken.
A127 Corridor Improvements are fully implemented (this work is understood to be on- On – going going).
Consideration is given to the potential for delivering ‘Phase 2’ of the Enhanced Public Medium – term Transport scheme, or a version of it within Canvey early on to promote travel choice, reduce vehicular travel impacts and support the delivery of growth.
To undertake a detailed assessment of the Somnes Avenue widening scheme, as this Short – term appears to offer potential capacity relief which could contribute towards unlocking a number of development sites on the island and should therefore be associated with the delivery of those schemes, where appropriate. Consideration needs to be given however, to how this additional link capacity can be capitalised upon with regard to the junction constraints that have been identified and whether it can be targeted towards sustainable modes (eg. footways, cycle lanes or bus lanes)
To consider undertaking a high level assessment of the Roscommon Way Extension Short – term scheme, to determine what benefits can be expected to be derived.
To consider undertaking a high level assessment of new and / or improved access options Long – term for Canvey (including the North Thameside Link Road), to determine the relative benefits that can be expected to be derived. As noted above, additional capacity in this area would have the potential to assist developments in this area of the Borough to come forward and should therefore be associated with the delivery of those schemes, where appropriate. Consideration also needs to be given to how any such additional link capacity can be capitalised upon with regard to the junction constraints that have been identified.
2.3.2 Castle Point: Transport Evidence for the New Local Plan – Transport: Phase 2 (AECOM)
AECOM was commissioned by Castle Point Borough Council to prepare transport evidence in connection to their emerging New Local Plan. The purpose: to assess development options on the local highway network.
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Site HO10 - Land East of Rayleigh Road
The development and proposed link road is not predicted to have a detrimental effect on the operation of the local highway network. Slight improvements are expected at the Woodmans Arms junctions. Slight deterioration in Rayleigh Road / Stadium Way performance is predicted.
Site HO14 – Land West of Benfleet
It is not expected that the link road would have detrimental impacts on existing junctions on the B1006 High Road at Wavertree Road and Jotmans Lane.
Site H018 – North West Thundersley
The qualitative assessment found that existing access options to serve Site H18 are limited. To support the full development, one or more other access points would need to be put in place, which could require significant highway works and amendments to the existing network.
2.4 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues for Castle Point Emerging Issues for Thames Gateway South Essex
Economic activity within the borough is Infrastructure in place may not have the Changes following Brexit. greater than average at 81.5%. capacity to support future business Investment decisions across Proportion of micro-businesses is growth. TGSE may falter or be greater than average. Without employment land allocations, sporadic. Construction companies make up over development could be sporadic and/or a quarter of the total businesses in the unsustainable. district. Unemployment is lower than average. Residents receive greater than average gross pay.
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3. Housing
The reform of the planning system by the new Government has led to significant changes in the way housing targets are devised which will impact on future housing supply. The revocation of Regional Strategies (including the East of England Plan) has given local planning authorities the responsibility of setting their own housing targets based on housing land supply, need and supporting evidence. Essex is planning for a significant increase in the housing land supply requirements through new Local Plans “by working with LPAs and land owners the objective is to secure better quality and more affordable property…”9
The 25 Year Environment Plan10 outlines the need to embed a net environmental gain principle for new developments. This ensures the delivery of environmental improvements both on the local and national scale and reduced costs and delays for developers. The Economic Plan for Essex aims to see over 81,310 new homes in 2021, 15,514 of those homes coming from within the Heart of Essex Growth Corridor.
The revised NPPF (2018) has introduced a new standardised methodology for calculating housing needs. This methodology indicates that over a ten year period, Castle Point’s housing need is 342 dwellings per annum. Over a 15 year plan period that would equate to 5,130 dwellings. This is roughly the figure that the LPA’s previous Local Plan (withdrawn) intended for. It is however expected that with new population projections data scheduled for November 2018, this number could rise alongside subsequent revision of the NPPF’s standardised OAN methodology.
3.1 Housing Supply
Table 16: Net additional dwellings in future years
Phasing Time Target NPPF Under- Required Required Supply Period Buffer delivery Supply Annual identified (Five Completion in the Years) Rate SHLAA*
0 to 5 2017 – 2050 410 (20%) 971 3431 686 729 Years 2022
5 to 10 2022 – 2050 103 (5%) - 2153 431 707 Years 2027
10 to 15 2027 – 1538 77 (5%) - 1614 323 550 Years 2032
Source: Annual Monitoring Report April ’16 – March ’17 *Excluding “Green Belt” sites
9 Essex Viability Protocol 2018 10 The 25 Year Environmental Plan 2015
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The current trajectory shows that by 2032 there will be 1,986 completions (since 2017). Annual completion rates are below the 200 annual average rate of provision as set out in the East of England Plan11 which at time of writing is still a statutory planning document. According to the Air Quality Management Plan 2018, Castle Point will see an additional 5,704 households between 2014 and 203712. House prices have increased by 13.6% since 2011 however housing supply is at the slowest rate in Essex of 0.9% between 2011 and 2014. Figures provided by the Essex Rural Strategy 201613 show that house prices in the county averaging £290,753 in 2015 is rising to £450,300 in a rural district. There is a need to improve the delivery of affordable housing in rural areas throughout Castle Point to ensure rural economies thrive.
3.2 Existing Housing Stock
Table 17: Dwelling stock by tenure
Local Private Authority Other public Registered Private sector Total (incl. owned sector Provider by other LAs)
Castle Point 4% 1.5% 0% 94.6% 38,460
Essex 6.8% 7.5% 0.2% 85.5% 628,980
England 6.7% 10.5% 0.2% 82.6% 23,950,000
Source: DCLG Table 100 Dwelling Stock (April 2017)
As outlined in the Essex Organisation Strategy, there needs to be an increase of homes built over the next 20 years. The targeted 136,000 new housing is an overall increase of 24% on the existing housing stock. There were 38,460 dwellings within Castle Point Borough as of April 2017 which was the sixth smallest of all local authority areas in Essex. The composition of dwelling stock was similar to that of Essex, East of England and England with the majority of dwellings being in the private sector. The Borough reported the highest proportion of stock within the private sector at 94.6%. In contrast there were considerably fewer dwellings owned by Private Registered Providers in Caste Point.
11 East of England Plan: The Revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England 2008 12 A217 Air Quality Management Plan (Strategic Outline Case) March 2018 13 Essex Rural Strategy 2016
Page 23 Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Environmental Report (Annex B)
Table 18: Mean dwelling prices (£)
Administrative area Average dwelling price
Castle Point £286,318
Essex £299,511
England £236,519
Source: Land Registry Data, DCLG (April 2017)
The average dwelling price within Castle Point Borough is £286,318. This is significantly higher than the national average. The average dwelling prices for the Borough and Essex are both above the national average while the regional average is lower.
Table 19: Housing price to income ratio
Year Housing price to income ratio
Castle Point Essex East England
2001 5.17 5.07 4.77 4.08
2006 8.52 7.81 7.44 7.17
2011 10.17 7.70 7.32 6.72
2016 11.12 9.90 8.96 7.16
Source: ONS, 2017
House price to income ratio within the district is higher than the county, regional and national averages. From 2001- 2016 the housing price to income ratio has doubled both within the district and nationally. Castle Point has a ratio of 11.12, whereas, Essex, East of England and England have ratios of 9.90, 8.96 and 7.16 respectively.
3.3 Housing need – Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2020
The Thames Gateway South Essex (TGSE) authorities of Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock have worked in tandem alongside Turley and Edge Analytics to prepare a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA). The SHMA is an important piece of evidence which supports future housing requirements in each authority, as their respective local plans are produced. The document has been prepared in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).
The SHMA will be used by the council to develop its policies for affordable housing in the district. To help in this work a viability study is also being done by consultants but this work has not been completed yet.
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Strategic Housing Market Assessments (SHMAs) are a crucial part of the evidence base that informs policy and helps shape strategic thinking in housing need and planning. The SHMA for Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan encompasses the Thames Gateway area and was originally produced in 2008 by GVA updated in 2010, and another SHMA published in 2013 by ORS.
The overarching study has been overseen since its inception by a steering group of representatives from the South Essex Growth Partnership. The study has mostly used secondary data. Over the course of the project a number of authorities have also conducted primary surveys for their own housing need, which were also factored in, but are not directly comparable due to their differing methodology. Reference is made to these differing studies where the evidence is complementary to the local evidence need.
The housing stock of Castle Point has continued to grow in recent years, with the Council having recorded 672 gross dwelling completions over the past five years (2015-20). Its monitoring suggests that three in every five new dwellings provided in this time were houses, while around one third were flats. Bungalows, sheltered accommodation, houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and bedsits have been provided in substantially smaller numbers. This split has remained broadly consistent throughout the period analysed, albeit with the last year (2019/20) seeing houses account for a markedly larger share of new homes. Fewer new homes were flats last year, but it can be seen that such properties have recently accounted for as many as 39% of the homes delivered in a single year in Castle Point. As many as 9% of new homes have been bungalows, while as many as 17% of new homes have been in the “other” category.
Overall, the mean price paid for housing in Castle Point grew by 35% between 2014 and 2019, the average house price in the borough subsequently standing at £321,648 in 2019. Whilst proportionate growth in prices has been broadly similar across all house types, it can be seen that the average price paid for semi-detached and terraced houses grew to a greater extent (respectively by 38% and 37%) than flats and detached houses (respectively 32% and 30%). This could signal growing imbalance between the supply of and demand for mid-sized housing in particular, albeit the consistency seen across all house types suggests that this is generally mirrored across the entire housing market.
Additional households would most likely require three bedrooms, such that there is an implied need for 43% of homes to be of this size. This is followed by larger properties with at least four bedrooms (29%) and two bedroom properties (22%). Substantially fewer households (6%) would be expected to require only one bedroom, based on current local trends that are admittedly influenced by the stock of housing currently available. When considered in the context of the last SHMA addendum, this profile is oriented slightly more towards larger properties. This is driven both by the more granular approach taken in this report, and the level of growth now expected – based on the latest available demographic evidence – amongst households with children who currently show the strongest tendency towards occupying larger home.
The latest modelling suggests that the ageing trend experienced in Castle Point will continue over the emerging plan period, with the number of residents aged 65 and over projected to increase by around 19% and still more pronounced growth anticipated amongst the eldest cohorts.
As with the preceding analysis of the housing needs of older people, the availability of new modelling allows for the updating of the SHMA’s analysis on the number of additional disabled people that could reside in Castle Point during the plan period. This suggests, based on prevalence rates derived from the 2011 Census, that nearly 2,600 of the additional residents accommodated through the planned level of housing provision could have support needs. The modelling assumes that the vast majority of these residents will live in private dwellings, rather than communal
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establishments. Disabled Facilities Grants, which have averaged around 75 per annum in recent years, are therefore likely to play a continuing role in meeting the housing needs of people with disabilities subject to funding being available.
3.4 Homelessness
Figure 2: Number of homeless acceptances in priority need in Castle Point District
100
90 93 80 81 70 67 60
50 54 56 54 49 40 46
Number ofpeople 38 30 36
20 18 10
0
Source: GOV, 2017
Following a significant drop in homeless acceptances in 2009, numbers have seen a significant increase in 2015/2016 seeing a total of 81/93 acceptances respectively, in the district. This recent growth of homeless acceptances in priority need is not in line with national trends, which have seen an increase of 6%, whereas the authority saw an increase of 65%.
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3.5 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation
In accordance with the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites14 criteria are ‘set to guide land supply allocations where there is identified need’. The tables below identify the number of sites and pitches set out for the Gypsy, Traveller and travelling Show-people communities and the net requirement to meet future needs.
Table 20: Extra Pitches which are required in Castle Point from 2013-2033
Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Supply Net Requirement Requirement
Supply of Pitches
Additional supply for empty pitches 0
Additional supply new sites 0
Total Supply 0
Current Need
Current unauthorised developments or 3 - encampments and seeking to stay in the area
Concealed households 0 -
Net movement from bricks and mortar 0 -
Total Current Need 3
Future Needs
Currently on sites with temporary planning 0 - permission
Net migration 0 -
Net new household formation 2 -
Total Future Needs 2 -
Total 5 0 5
Source: Opinion Research Services, 2014
In the period 2013-2033 Castle Point has a net requirement of 5 extra pitches.
14 Planning policy for Traveller Sites 2015
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Table 21: Extra Plots which are required in Castle Point from 2013-2033
Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Supply Net Requirement Requirement
Supply of Plots
Additional supply for empty plots 0
Additional supply new yards 0
Total Supply 0
Current Need
Current unauthorised developments and seeking to 0 - stay in the area
Concealed households 0 -
Net movement from bricks and mortar 0 -
Total Current Need 0
Future Needs
Currently on yards with temporary planning 0 - permission
Net migration 0 -
Net new household formation 0 -
Total Future Needs 0 -
Total 0 0 0
Source: Opinion Research Services, 2014
In the period 2013-2033 Castle Point has a net requirement of 0 extra plots. According to the Castle Point GTAA 2017, the best available evidence supports a national net household growth rate of 1.5% per annum for Gypsies and Travellers.15 However, there are no waiting lists and no plot needs due to the lack of public sites and Travelling Showpeople yards.
15 Castle Point Borough Council Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment 2017
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3.5.1 Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Show-People Accommodation Assessment Summary 2016-2033 (Opinion Research Services, January 2018)
Table 22: Breakdown of sites and yards by local authority
Local Authority Gypsies and Travellers Travelling Showpeople
Sites Pitches Yards Plots
Basildon 102 206 1 2
Braintree 10 59 2 6
Brentwood 20 55 0 0
Castle Point 2 7 0 0
Chelmsford 22 81 3 42
Colchester 11 28 0 0
Epping Forest 54 148 1 9
Harlow 3 37 0 0
Maldon 17 61 1 5
Rochford 13 20 0 0
Southend-on-Sea 0 0 0 0
Tending 6 17 0 0
Thurrock 18 131 2 8
Uttlesford 19 61 1 1
TOTAL – ESSEX 279 780 9 65
TOTAL – GREATER ESSEX 297 911 11 73
Source: Opinion Research Services, January 2018
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3.6 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues Emerging for Castle Point Issues for Thames Gateway South Essex
The revised NPPF (2018) has introduced a new standardised Homelessness rates TGSE may not meet methodology for calculating housing needs. This methodology could continue to objectively assessed indicates that over a ten year period, Castle Point’s housing need increase in future years. needs. is 342 dwellings per annum. It is however expected that with new House prices could population projections data scheduled for November 2018, this continue to increase, due number could rise alongside a subsequent revision of the NPPF’s to proximity to London. standardised OAN methodology. Homes could be Housing supply is currently below the required 200 annual constructed at a lesser completions. standard due to The percentage of privately owned dwellings is greater than constraints. average at 94.6%. Currently operating Mean house prices are greater than the national average, but without a Local Plan in lower than the county average. place. Housing price to income ratio is higher than average at 11:12. Not planning positively for Homelessness has been at its highest rates 15/16; 81, 16/17; 93, an appropriate mix of 17/18; 67. housing types and tenures and locations. The district requires 5 gypsy/traveller pitches. Stalling delivery of Future Considerations: homes. • Land availability Not meeting OAN. • Tenure models
• London effect • Homelessness • Good quality homes, in all tenure types
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4. Population and Society
4.1 Population
The Economic Plan for Essex (2014) shows projections in Essex’s demographic growth between 2014 and 2021. Analysis of 2013-based forecasts from the East of England forecasting model for the period 2014-21, suggest that Essex can expect to see growth in:
- The overall population of around 71,000 (4.9%);
- The working age-population of 13,000 (1.4%); and
- The number of households of some 33,000 (5.5%).
Within the Economic Plan for Essex and as highlighted in the tables below, the working-age population is forecast to grow at a much slower rate than the general population. This results in a larger number of ‘economically inactive’ residents.
Table 23: Population
Area 2003 2016 % change
Castle Point 87,200 89,800 2.98%
Essex 1,326,100 1,457,900 9.94%
East of England 5,474,100 6,129,000 11.96%
Great Britain 57,931,700 63,785,900 10.11%
Source: Based on 2016 mid-year population estimates from ONS
Castle Point District has an estimated population of 89,800. Since 2003 the population has grown at a considerably lower rate than that of the county, the region and the country. At 2.98% it is considerably below the national population growth rate of 10.11%.
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Table 24: Population age structure
Age group Castle Point Essex East of England England
Persons aged 0-4 5.01 % 5.93% 6.18% 6.20%
Persons aged 5-14 10.47% 11.62% 11.86% 11.76%
Persons aged 15-19 5.68% 5.62% 5.62% 5.75%
Persons aged 20-44 26.61% 29.79% 30.98% 32.95%
Persons aged 45-64 27.28% 26.72% 26.02% 25.45%
Persons aged 65+ 24.83% 20.32% 19.33% 17.88%
Source: ONS 2016
The majority of Castle Point Borough’s population are adults within the age bands of 20-44 years and 45-64 years. The district has a lower proportion of young persons under the age of 15 at 15.48% compared to the proportion of persons aged 65 and over at 24.83%. The proportion of young persons is below the county, regional and national equivalent.
Table 25: Population projections
Area 2016 2026 2036 2041 Percentage change (2015 – 2037)
Castle Point 89,800 94,200 98,900 101,300 11.35%
Essex 1,457,900 1,571,600 1,668,500 1,712,900 14.89%
England 55,268,100 58,505,600 60,905,500 61,952,100 10.79%
Source: ONS population projections (2016 based)
The population of Castle Point Borough is projected to increase to 101,300 by 2041 which represents an 11.35% growth on the 2016 population figures. This percentage change is lower than sub regional figures, but is greater than the national growth figures.
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Table 26: Population projections for Castle Point based on broad age groups
Broad Age 2016 2026 2036 2041 % of % of Groups population population in 2016 in 2041
Children 14,000 15,000 15,000 16,000 15.55% 14.29%
Working Age 54.000 54,000 54,000 65,000 60.00% 58.04%
Older people 22,000 25,000 30,000 31,000 24.44% 27.69%
Note: Children (0-14), Working age (15-64), Older people (65 and over)
Source: ONS 2016
The population within Castle Point is projected to increase overall. Categorised as aged 65 years and over, there is projected to be 31,000 older people by 2041. By 2039 the projected number of children is 16,000 meaning that the population will be an aging one, which will likely result in changing requirements of the Borough’s residents. This is further demonstrated by the slight decrease in children as a percentage of the population in 2041 and a considerable increase in the percentage of older people.
Table 27: Household projections
Area 2014 2019 2024 2029 2034 2039 % change (2014- 2039)
Castle 37,000 38,000 39,000 41,000 42,000 43,000 14.0% Point
Essex 600,000 631,000 661,000 691,000 721,000 750,000 20.0%
England 22,746,000 23,927,000 25,015,000 26,083,000 27,088,000 28,004,000 18.8%
Source: ONS 2016 (Projections are based on revised 2014)
Household projections are 2014 based and are linked to the 2012 based population projections. In 2014 there were estimated to be 37,000 households within Castle Point and by 2039 this is projected to increase by 14.0% to 43,000. This proportional increase is below both the county projected increases and nationwide increases.
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4.2 Education
Table 28: Number attending and capacity of schools in Castle Point Borough
Type Net capacity Number on Surplus/deficit Forecast Forecast 2016/17 roll (2017) 2016/17 number on roll surplus/deficit 2021/22 2021/22 including adjustment for new housing
Primary School 6,799 6,622 177 6,649 93
Secondary 6,290 5,791 499 6,158 127 School
Special School 0 0 0 0 0
Total 13,089 12,413 676 12,807 312
Source: Commissioning School Places in Essex (Data Supplements)
School age population numbers are projected to grow relatively slowly and school capacity within Castle Point is expected to be sufficient to accommodate children in the Borough. Primary schools are predicted to have a surplus of 150 places for the 2021/22 academic year. Secondary schools are predicted to have a surplus of 162 for the same time period. However, when adjustments are made to the pupil forecast figures to take account of the numbers of primary and secondary pupils, it is anticipated that it will be produced by new housing that is likely to be built by 2019. The forecasts show a deficit of some 93 places for primary schools and only a surplus of 127 secondary school places. Participation in government-funded Further Education by Castle Point residents (under 19) has fallen from 3,380 to 2,300 between 2012 and 2016 (ESB District Profile 2017).
As provided in the Essex County Council Design Guide16, the need to establish evidence based ‘cascade’ approach to considering school provision in site selection is essential and the steps to do this are outlined within the document. Any sites where it will not be viable for developers to mitigate their impact on education through appropriate education contributions (as set out in the Essex County Council Developers’ Guide to Infrastructure Contributions 201617) should not be allocated. Development should thus prioritise the existing urban area and plan sufficiently to facilitate the student populous. This goal is in line with the Essex Transport’s Strategy18aim to enable the residents of Essex to access further education.
16 Essex County Council Design Guide 2018 17 The Essex County Council Developers’ Guide to Infrastructure Contributions 2016 18 Essex Transport Strategy: the Local Transport Plan for Essex 2011
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Table 29: Secondary schools and colleges in Castle Point
School / College Institution type (age Ofsted inspection Ofsted inspection date range) result
The Appleton School 11-19 1 – Outstanding 10 July 2013
Castle View School 11-16 2 – Good 3 July 2013
The Cornelius Vermuyden 11-16 2 - Good 13 May 2015 School
The Deanes School 11-16 n/a n/a
The King John School 11-18 1 – Outstanding 20 September 2013
Prospects College of General FE College (16+) 2 – Good 15 November 2016 Advanced Technology (PROCAT) (a)
SEEVIC College General FE College (16+) 3 – Requires Improvement 6 December 2016
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
Out of the seven Secondary schools and colleges found in Castle Point, only one has received an Ofsted result which is lower than Good, SEEVIC College.
Figure 3: Participation and achievement in government-funded Further Education by Castle Point residents
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
The graphs above show a clear trend in the uptake of further education in Castle Point. There has been a decline in those participating and achieving in government-funded Further Education in the District. This would suggest that there has been an increase in school leavers moving straight to employment, following education. The Essex’s
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Employment and Skills Board (ESB)19 is using a £1.5m Skills Investment Fund to provide new skills programmes that have the potential to be mainstreamed.
Table 30: Adult qualifications
East of Castle Point Essex Great Britain England
NVQ4 and 6,700 13.0% 31.2% 34.7% 38.6% above
NVQ3 and 18,100 35.0% 50.5% 53.7% 57.2% above
NVQ2 and 32,600 63.0% 72.3% 73.3% 74.7% above
NVQ1 and 41,700 80.8% 87.4% 86.5% 85.4% above
Other # # 5.9% 6.3% 8.8% qualification
Note: # where the sample size is too small to provide a reliable estimate
Source: NOMIS, 2017 data
The population of Castle Point Borough has in general fewer qualifications than the overall sub-national and national populations, with 80.8% of the working age population of Castle Point Borough accounting for 41,700 people are qualified to at least level 1 or higher compared to 85.4% across Great Britain. Level 1 represents foundation GNVQ, NVQ1 or up to 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C. The most significant difference is that Castle Point has comparatively lower proportions of the population qualified at Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 and above. With 35.0% of the population having attained at least 2 or more A levels, advanced GNVQ, NVQ3 or equivalent (level 3) and 13.0% achieving a higher national diploma, degree and higher degree level or equivalent (level 4). Castle Point has a significantly lower skilled workforce in comparison to the county and a lower proportion than the regional level.
19 https://www.essexesb.co.uk/
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Figure 4: Apprenticeship starts by Castle Point’s residents
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
Figure 5: Apprenticeship starts by Castle Point residents, by age
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
Castle Point has seen an increased uptake of apprenticeships in the period of 2013/14 – 2015/16. This could correlate with the reduction in individuals attending further education, and instead deciding upon a career.
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Figure 6: Apprenticeship starts by Castle residents, by level
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
4.3 Quality of Life
The Essex Economic Commission Reports (2017)20 show that challenges facing some coastal communities include lower pay, poorer qualification and skills, higher levels of deprivation and costs associated with a larger local population aged 65+. The aim of the report, and others included in this Report are to aid the sustainable development of Essex to improve upon the categories listed and achieve a higher quality of life throughout the County.
Table 31: Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2010
Essex rank Extent Local Average score Average rank concentration
1 Southend 97 Southend 73 Tendring 86 Harlow 69
2 Basildon 111 Tendring 74 Harlow 95 Tendring 81
3 Tendring 112 Basildon 125 Southend 106 Southend 117
4 Thurrock 138 Thurrock 130 Basildon 131 Basildon 141
5 Harlow 144 Harlow 177 Thurrock 143 Thurrock 146
6 Colchester 187 Colchester 181 Castle Point 204 Castle Point 198
20 The Essex Economic Commission Reports 2017
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Essex rank Extent Local Average score Average rank concentration
7 Castle Point 216 Castle Point 212 Colchester 205 Epping Forest 203
8 Epping Forest 229 Epping Forest 223 Epping Forest 209 Colchester 206
9 Braintree 238 Braintree 232 Braintree 212 Braintree 210
10 Chelmsford 244 Chelmsford 249 Maldon 238 Maldon 230
11 Rochford 253 Maldon 262 Brentwood 294 Brentwood 295
12 Brentwood 291 Brentwood 271 Chelmsford 295 Chelmsford 298
13 Maldon 294 Rochford 282 Rochford 299 Rochford 299
14 Uttlesford 294 Uttlesford 323 Uttlesford 312 Uttlesford 311
Note: The number alongside each authority’s name is that authority’s national rank for that measure. The smaller the rank the more deprived the local authority. Source: DCLG, 2011
Castle Point has the 7th highest level of deprivation for a local authority within Greater Essex. Of the 326 local authorities within England, Castle Point ranks within the bottom 50% for the four measures – extent, local concentration, average score and average rank.
Deprivation is measured on a small scale with local authorities divided in small areas known as Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) which have an average of 1,500 people, a minimum of 1,000 and are sub-divisions of wards. There are 32,844 LSOAs in England. Extent is the proportion of a local authority district’s population living in the most deprived Local Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in the country. Local concentration refers to 'hot spots' of deprivation by reference to a percentage of the local authority districts population. Average Score is the population weighted average of the combined scores for the LSOAs in a local authority district and average Rank is the population weighted average of the combined ranks for the LSOAs in a local authority district.
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Figure 7: Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
Figure 8: Income Deprivation Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
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Figure 9: Employment Deprivation Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
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Figure 10: Education, Skills and Training Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
Figure 11: Health Deprivation and Disability Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
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Figure 12: Crime Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
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Figure 13: Barriers to Housing and Services Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
Figure 14: Living Environment Deprivation Domain for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
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Figure 15: Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
Figure 16: Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index for Castle Point
Source: Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer, 2018
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4.4 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues for Castle Emerging Issues for Point Thames Gateway South Essex
Population change within the district was Castle Point must adapt to having a The wider area must adapt to 2.98% in a 13 year period- considerably greater than average percentage of having a greater than average lower than the national and regional aging populous. percentage of ageing averages. Population change within the district is populous. The population within Castle Point is considerably lower than average, ageing and will continue to increase in possibly causing further problems with age. the aging population. Predicted population change within Likely evolution of the Baseline without Castle Point is higher than national the Local Plan would result in: predictions, but lower than the Essex • No opportunity to plan predictions. positively to reduce deprivation Out of seven secondary schools in and improve upon social Castle Point, only one is rated below inclusion good. • No opportunities to address Castle Point has a lower skilled ageing population and meet workforce in comparison to the district the needs of a changing and region. population Future Considerations • Changing demographics and planning for suitable services • Change to migration trends • Inequality (in terms of provision of specific services for certain demographic groups e.g. travellers)
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5. Health and Wellbeing
5.1 Life Expectancy and Health
Table 32: Life expectancy
Area 2011-2013 2012-2014
Males Females Males Females
Castle Point 79.8 82.4 79.7 82.4
East of England 80.3 83.8 80.4 83.8
England 79.4 83.1 79.5 83.2
Source: DCLG, 2014 data
According to the Essex Organisation Strategy 2017-2021, “one fifth of Essex’s population is over 65 and this is projected to increase to almost one third by 2030”. There is an expected 19% increase of over 65s within Castle Point. Thirteen percent of over 65s are in work and job satisfaction is relatively significant. However, due to higher life expectancy and job satisfaction, there must be a strategy in place to ensure the ageing population of Essex’s overall health improves.
Life expectancy of residents within Castle Point Borough is lower than the regional and higher than national averages with men living for an average of 79.8 years and women on average living 82.4 years showing that in general, life expectancy is increasing nationwide. The implications of this will mean that as people live longer there will be an increased pressure on services for the elderly. In Castle Point, 1,410 people aged over 65 are throughout to have dementia and this number is forecast to increase by 70% by 2030. According to 2016 figures, Castle Point needs 64 Independent Living Rental Units (self-contained housing that is designed to enable people to retain their independence for as long as possible)21 as there is currently none.
Adult health in the district is in general, better than average when compared to national figures. Alcohol related harm and self-harm hospital stays are better than average when compared to national admittances. Estimated levels of excess adult weight are greater than the national average. Rates of STIs and TB are better than average. Rates of statutory, homelessness, violent crime, long term unemployment and early deaths from cardiovascular diseases are better than average22.
21 https://www.livingwellessex.org 22 Castle Point, Health Profile 2017, Public Health England, 2017. Revised 2018
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5. 2 Physical Activity and Open Space
Table 33: Adult participation in 30 minutes, moderate intensity sport at least once a week
Active people survey 8 – Active people survey 9 – Active people survey 10 – Oct 2013 – Oct 2014 Oct 2014 – Sep 2015 Oct 2015 – Sep 2016
Castle Point 34.9% 29.8% 36.2%
Essex 35.7% 34.8% 35.7%
East of England 35.6% 35.6% 36.2%
England 36.1% 35.8% 36.1%
Source: Sport England Active People Survey 8, 9 and 10 (2015/16)
The proportion of adults participating in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport has increased in the most recent survey at the local, sub-national and national levels. In the Borough 36.2% of those in the survey were active in sport between October 2015 and September 2016. In England, according to the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey (2016)23, some 12% (1.3 million) of children are not accessing the natural environment each year. Throughout England, 19% of men and 26% of women are ‘physically inactive’ and dependence on the car exacerbates this problem24. In Castle Point, 70.2% of adults and 35.1% of 10-11 year old children are overweight or obese and only 16.8% of adults are doing regular physical activity to benefit their health (according to 2016 figures).
Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) created by Natural England sets out the minimum amount of accessible natural greenspace that any household should be within reach of. Analysis of Accessible Natural Greenspace Provision for Essex25 showed that only 7% of Essex households met all the ANGSt requirements while 14% didn’t meet any. According to the report, “the areas that fare the worst according to the ANGSt criteria are the more rural parts of the county; although there may be greenspace surrounding rural inhabitants, there is often limited official public access beyond the footpath network”. This isn’t necessarily true of households within Castle Point as 100% of them meet some ANGSt criteria. The Borough covers around 4,481ha and 677ha of it is considered to be accessible natural greenspace as shown in Figure 17.
23 Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment: a pilot to develop an indicator of visits to the natural environment by children 2016 24 Active Design principles; Planning for health and welling through sport and physical activity 2015 25 Analysis of Accessible Natural Greenspace Provision for Essex, including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Unitary Authorities 2009
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Figure 17: Accessible Natural Greenspace in Essex
Source: Diagram taken from Analysis of Accessible Natural Greenspace Provision for Essex (2009)
5.3 General Health of the District
Castle Point has the second highest rate of diabetes within Essex and this rate continues to increase. The district has the second lowest rate of hospital admissions due to hip fractures. Both adults and pupils have good wellbeing and as a result there are a low percentage of mental health problems. Teenage pregnancy in the district is below the county average, but is linked to a range of poor outcomes in later life. The amount of testing for chlamydia is lower than the county average, but there is a higher rate of positive diagnosis. Castle Point has some areas which have high levels of child poverty. Free early education entitlement has an average take up.
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5.4 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues for Castle Emerging Issues for Point Thames Gateway South Essex
Life expectancy within the district is Lifestyle changes to more sedentary New developments not being greater than England averages, but practices. designed to appropriately reflect lower than the Essex average. the need to shift to more active Likely Evolution of the Baseline without the lifestyles. Adult activity has increased in the Local Plan. period 2013-2016, at present; it is Not designing to encourage physical similar to the county, regional and activity, safe neighbourhoods and with the national averages. needs of an ageing population in mind. Future Considerations
• Changing lifestyles and the rise in lifestyle related illnesses – sedentary lifestyles, lack of time spent outdoors etc. • Changes to health and social care
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6. Transport and Connectivity
6.1 Modes and Flows of Travel
The Local Transport Plan Vision for Essex County states that transport infrastructure investment operates on three scales that are as follows:
- Securing improvements to the strategic road and rail networks that connect Greater Essex, the rest of the UK, London and the ports and airports to enable trade within the wider UK and Global economies;
- Providing effective connections to and between the main economic centres of Greater Essex enabling the efficient movement of people and goods within each economic catchment; and
- Planning for efficient movement within key towns and cities in Essex to maintain the effectiveness of the transport network as these key centres grow.
Table 34: Private Vehicle Ownership
4 or more All No car 1 car or 2 cars or 3 cars or Total cars cars or households or van van vans vans or vans vans
Castle 6,113 15,040 11,079 3,018 1,190 36,440 51,466 Point (11.88%) (29.22%) (21.53%) (5.86%) (2.31%)
East of 449,358 1,039,677 703,968 166,426 63,606 2,423,035 3,231,763 England (13.90%) (32.17%) (21.78%) (5.15%) (1.97%)
5,691,251 9,301,776 5,441,593 1,203,865 424,883 England 22,063,368 25,696,833 (22.15%) (36.20%) (21.18%) (4.68%) (1.65%)
Source: 2011 Census, ONS
In general, Castle Point Borough has a lower number of cars or a van per household compared to sub-national and England levels for no cars to two cars, but has a higher number of households with 3 or more cars or vans by only 0.71%.
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Table 35: Travel to work methods for the residential population of Castle Point Borough
Castle Point East of England England
Count % Count % Count %
All People 64,626 100.00% 4,245,544 100.00% 38,881,374 100.00%
Works mainly at or 1,700 2.63% 161,428 3.80% 1,349,568 3.47% from home
Underground, metro, 169 0.26% 33,110 0.78% 1,027,625 2.64% light rail or tram
Train 5,747 8.89% 205,077 4.83% 1,343,684 3.46%
Bus, minibus or 1,465 2.27% 106,303 2.50% 1,886,539 4.85% coach
Taxi or minicab 250 0.39% 13,227 0.31% 131,465 0.34%
Driving a car or van 26,390 40.83% 1,757,121 41.39% 14,345,882 36.90%
Passenger in a car 1,947 3.01% 143,749 3.39% 1,264,553 3.25% or van
Motorcycle, scooter 336 0.52% 22,475 0.53% 206,550 0.53% or moped
Bicycle 651 1.01% 100,651 2.37% 742,675 1.91%
On foot 2,549 3.94% 288,663 6.80% 2,701,453 6.95%
Other 239 0.37% 17,708 0.42% 162,727 0.42%
Not currently 23,183 35.87% 1,396,032 32.88% 13,718,653 35.28% working
Source: Census data 2011 from ONS (updated Jan 2013)
Castle Point Borough has a lower proportion of residents driving to work by either car or van (40.83%) when compared to regional levels. There is a considerably higher usage of trains as a mode of transport within the Borough compared to the national trend but fewer residents’ cycle or travel by underground or on a bus, minibus or coach. Rail travel could be greater because of the travel links into London. The proportion of residents who walk to work is significantly lower when compared to regional and national levels. According to 2015 figures, 60% of Castle Point residents are satisfied with their local bus service and 42% are satisfied with their local transport information -
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both highest in the county (A Profile of People Living in Castle Point 2016).
It is suggested by the increased train line usage that residents of Castle Point are regularly taking advantage of the rail links to commute into the city. As outlined in the Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy 201626, workplace travel planning is essential in reducing the number of people travelling to work each day by car/van. The steps in order to reduce this number are to consult on Local Plans, give recommendations for Planning Applications, instate the ECC Travel Plan Accreditation Scheme and implement the ECC Employee Travel Plan. The Essex Cycling Strategy 201627 promotes both individuals opting for cycling but the planning for safe cycle networks. Castle Point is currently underperforming (1.01%) in comparison to the county (2.37%) and country (1.91%), and so implementing projects such as ‘Quietways’ will lead to a growth in cycling numbers. The Essex Highways Cycle Action Plans 2018 states that £1.2billion of Government funding is allocated to improving cycle structures and networks.28
Table 36: Travel to work flows in Castle Point Borough
Usual residence Work in Castle Point Live in Castle Point Net flow
Southend-on-Sea 2,577 4,869 -2,292
Rochford 1,479 1,554 -75
Basildon 1,331 5,083 -3,752
Thurrock 445 1,638 -1,193
Chelmsford 411 1,030 -619
Maldon 157 140 17
Westminster, City of 10 2,577 -2,567 London
Havering 142 626 -484
Braintree 80 134 -54
Total 7,470 23,573 16,103
Note: Total net flow does not equal Castle Points’ net flow exactly due to only the major commuting locations being included.
Source: NOMIS, census data 2011
26 Essex County Council Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy August 2016 27 Essex Cycling Strategy November 2016 28 Castle Point Borough Cycling Action Plan: Highways/Transport Planning 2018
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Figure 18: Travel to Work Patterns – Inflow
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
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Figure 19: Travel to Work Patterns – Outflow
Source: Essex Employment and Skills Board District Profile – Castle Point, 2017
Residents of Castle Point are mainly commuting outside of the borough for work. With the largest outflow being Inner London at 5,158 (21.9%), the greatest inflow to the borough is from Southend at 2,577 just smaller than half of the greatest outgoing commuters. The importance of the A127 being a primary route for the Thames Gateway South Essex (TGSE) results in heavy congestion at peak hours. There are plans to improve upon the existing network infrastructure, approximately £76million (excluding any widening). The A127 provides the main road commuter link from the Southend and Basildon areas to London.
The Education and Inspections Act 2006 requires that local authorities promote sustainable travel and also extends the right of free transport for children living in lower income households. The ECC Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy 2016 aims to double the number of trips by bicycle, where cycling activity is measured as the estimated total number of bicycle stages made each year, from 0.8 billion stages in 2013 to 1.6 billion stages in 2025. The ‘legacy’ from the Hadleigh Olympic Event resulted in the plans for a new mountain biking facility and hub with improved access29.
Where new residential development is permitted, developer contributions must provide access to education routes. If the development exceeds the maximum distance to the nearest school, developers must cover the cost of transport for a minimum of 7 years for primary and 5 years for secondary schools. On average, the cost of transporting a primary school child to school is £8 per day (return) and for secondary school the price is £4.50 (based on calculations of 190 school days per year)30.
29 A127 Corridor for Growth: An Economic Plan 2014 30 The Essex County Council Developers’ Guide to Infrastructure Contributions 2016
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6.1.1 Essex Local Transport Plan 2011
The Essex Transport Strategy is an important component of the Local Transport Plan. The strategy enables helping the delivery of the Council’s long term vision of supporting the delivery of the Integrated County Strategy; identifying suitable transport investment and; supporting identified and unidentified funding bids.
Table 37: Outcomes and Challenges of the Essex Transport Strategy
Outcome Challenges
Provide connectivity for Essex Providing good connectivity to and within urban areas to support self- communities and international contained employment and housing growth and regeneration gateways to support sustainable Providing good inter-urban connectivity within Essex and with adjacent economic growth and regeneration major urban areas Maximising the benefit to the local economy of Greater Essex’s international gateways and strategic transport links to London, the East and South East of England and the rest of the UK
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions and Reducing the carbon-intensity of travel in Essex improve air quality through lifestyle Reducing pollution from transport to improve air quality in urban areas and changes, innovation and technology. along key corridors. Protecting and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment.
Improve safety on the transport Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on Essex roads network and enhance and promote a Working with partners to promote a safe and secure travelling safe travelling environment environment
Secure and maintain all transport Effectively and efficiently managing our roads and footways assets to an appropriate standard and Effectively and efficiently managing all of the Council’s wider transport ensure that the network is available for assets use Keeping the transport network operational and safe in all seasons
Provide sustainable access and travel Enabling Essex residents to access further education, employment and choice for Essex residents to help vital services (including healthcare, hospitals and retail) create sustainable communities Maintaining the vitality of our rural communities Encouraging and enabling healthier travel and leisure activities Creating strong and sustainable communities
Source: Essex Highways, June 2011
Transport services and projects should be delivered efficiently and effectively. Procedures are put in place to ensure that the programme of transport interventions delivers the outcomes identified in the transport strategy. The Highways Strategic Transformation programme will see changes to how ECC works, ensuring value for money, efficiency, and the consideration of the wider needs of Essex at the core of all decisions. The delivery of the Local Transport Plan will be monitored, with each of the five indicators at the core of a series of performance indicators. This provides a broad measure of the plan and allows for the assessment of success in the local transport plan implementation.
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6.2 Accessibility
Figure 20: Access to GP Surgeries at Retail premises May 2009
Source: Essex County Council, 2009
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Figure 21: Access to Employment Sites May 2009
Source: Essex County Council, 2009
Figure 22: Access to Primary Schools May 2009
Source: Essex County Council, 2009
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Figure 23: Access to Secondary Schools May 2009
Source: Essex County Council, 2009
6.3 Road Safety
Table 38: KSI Casualties by District 2010 per 100,000 Populations
Population All Drink Motor Pedal Pedestrians Young KSI per Drive cycles Cycles Drivers 100,000 population
Basildon 175,000 58 4 24 3 14 10 33.14
Braintree 147,500 76 6 16 7 10 15 51.52
Brentwood 73,800 34 6 4 2 8 13 46.07
Castle 88,000 27 0 7 1 3 4 30.68 Point
Chelmsford 168,500 93 2 23 8 15 24 55.19
Colchester 173,600 84 2 22 9 16 8 48.38
Epping 124,900 110 10 22 4 23 36 88.07 Forest
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Population All Drink Motor Pedal Pedestrians Young KSI per Drive cycles Cycles Drivers 100,000 population
Harlow 82,200 28 0 5 4 7 1 34.14
Maldon 61,700 42 1 17 3 2 7 68.07
Rochford 83,300 16 1 5 5 1 1 19.20
Tendring 138,100 63 3 15 6 10 7 45.61
Uttlesford 80,000 40 1 11 0 4 5 51.60
Essex 1,396,600 671 36 171 52 113 131 48.04
Source: Driving Casualties Down in Essex, 2010
In 2010 Castle Point saw a total of 27 individuals who were either killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents. When compared to other Essex Local Authorities, Castle Point has the second lowest KSI per 100,000 populations at 30.68, behind Rochford which has a considerably lower KSI per 100,000 at 19.20. The KSI per 100,000 in Castle Point is also significantly lower than the Essex average of 48.04. Castle Point achieved a lower rate of those killed and seriously injured on the roads in 2012-2014, which fell below the Essex average of 42.2 and the country’s’ average of 39.3. In Castle Point, 44% of adults are satisfied with safety on the roads, above the county average of 42% (A profile of people living in Castle Point 2016).
6.4 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues Emerging Issues for for Castle Point Thames Gateway South Essex
Residents of the borough have lower than Aging population requires an Must adapt as an area to vehicle average ownership of 0-2 cars, but higher adaptable approach to new improvements, electric and average of owning 3-4 cars. transportation options. autonomous etc. Commuters using the train are greater on Population increase could average, compared to the national and encourage private car regional statistics. purchases, leading to Residents which commute to work using a congestion and pollution. car are similar to regional and national averages. Greatest outflow of population for work is to London. Greatest inflow of population for work is from Southend. The borough has second lowest number of road accidents, leading to death or serious injury in the county.
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7. Cultural Heritage
7.1 Recorded Archaeological Sites and Finds in Castle Point Borough
The most complete information relating to the cultural heritage of the Borough is recorded on the Historic Environment Record maintained jointly by Castle Point Borough and Essex County Council. Although heritage and historic designations are protected nationally, allocating sites and devising policy criteria in a locally relevant plan-led system enables input by historic environment specialists on a site-by-site basis and the best outcomes all alternatives. It also takes account of local assets of historic and cultural interest that may not be designated.
7.1.1 The Local List
The Local List was reviewed in 201331 and the conclusions were as follows:
Review of Existing Local List The existing list is based upon Appendix 11 of the 1998 Adopted Local Plan; this contains a total of 37 records. There are 8 records for Benfleet, 10 records for Canvey Island, 16 records for Hadleigh and 3 records for Thundersley. Since adoption, three records have been designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments and another site removed entirely. One record has been designated as a Grade II listed building and one record has been demolished, also removed from the list. A further three records have been removed, two of three did not meet the criteria, and another did meet some criteria but did not contribute to the sense of place. In conclusion, 8 records are to be retained, the remaining 20 are to be retained but with modifications to the reasoning behind their designation.
Review of suggestions for inclusion on Local List A total of 54 potential new records were submitted for consideration of inclusion in the Local List; 12 in Benfleet, 3 on Canvey Island, 35 in Hadleigh and 4 in Thundersley. 29 of the potential new records met the criteria, as described in the methodology and contributed to their surroundings and were subsequently recommended for inclusion on the Local List.
Proposed Local List The proposed Local List comprises now of 58 records, 13 in Benfleet, 12 on Canvey Island, including the relocated Stepping Stones as a separate record, 29 in Hadleigh and 4 in Thundersley. 28 remain from the existing list.
31 https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n870.pdf&ver=1018
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Figure 24: Scheduled Monuments, Historic Parks and Gardens and Conservation areas in Essex
7.2
Listed Buildings & Conservation Area
Castle Point has 38 listed buildings and churches within the Borough. This includes 3 grade I listed and 2 grade II* listed. Additionally the Borough features two designated Conservation Areas, these being:
• Florence gardens in Hadleigh, which aims to protect a series of bungalows which were once part of a Salvation Army Home Farm Colony, a conservation appraisal and management plan has been prepared for the area, which must be taken into account in the Local Plan.
• The conservation in South Benfleet around the medieval settlement remains and the Grade I listed church, a conservation appraisal and management plan are being prepared for the area, which must be taken into account in the Local Plan.
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7.3 Heritage at risk
In the latest Heritage at Risk in Essex Register (2013), the World War II Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gunsite at Northwick, on Canvey Island is the only identified asset at risk.
7.4 Scheduled Ancient Monuments
The built environment of Castle Point Borough features seven Scheduled Ancient Monuments:
• Roman Saltern, 260m south east of great Russell Head Farm, Canvey Island
• Heavy anti-aircraft gunsite, 170m south west of the junction of cedar road and west crescent
• Heavy anti-aircraft gunsite, 380m east of the Northwick farm
• Hadleigh castle: an enclosure castle and an associated dam and mill
• Heavy anti-aircraft gunsite on sandpit hill
• Roman Fort (near Hadleigh)
• Romano-British site north of pound wood, Thundersley
7.5 Historic Parks and Gardens
Historic England does not list any historic parks and gardens in the Borough.
7.6 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues for Emerging Issues for Castle Point Thames Gateway South Essex
There are 7 Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Bringing heritage assets back Green Infrastructure Strategy. Caste Point. into optimum use from being Link to London National Park There are 58 records on the Local List. assets ‘at risk’ and ensuring City. other heritage assets do not There is 1 heritage asset at risk. become ‘at risk’. Most designated heritage assets would be Inappropriate development protected without the Local Plan. may harm the setting of such assets.
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8. Biodiversity and Nature Conservation
8.1 Biodiversity Action Plan
From the Essex Biodiversity Action Plan32 (EBAP) there are 25 species and 10 habitat action plans covering Essex. The EBAP (2011) comprises of initiatives relating to 11 habitat types. These are:
• Arable Field Margins
• Hedgerows
• Traditional Orchards
• Lowland Dry Acid Grassland
• Lowland Meadows
• Lowland Heathland
• Ponds
• Floodplain and Coastal Grazing Marsh
• Lowland Raised Bog
• Reedbeds
• Coastal Salt Marsh
In addition to the above, wet woodlands are BAP habitats and will be taken into consideration alongside the listed BAP species and habitats in the SA/SEA of relevant policies and sites in the Borough’s Local Plan. Seventy percent of the 369,394ha land area of Essex is productive farmland. Half of this land is Grade 1, 2 or 3a under the Agricultural Land Classification, meaning it is of a high quality.
Within Castle Point, the RSPB manage two reserves for the benefit of wildlife and people. Canvey Wick is owned by The Land Trust and managed in partnership by the RSPB and Buglife. It covers 19 hectares and is open to the public. West Canvey Marshes is owned and managed by the RSPB and extends to 248 hectares and is open to the public. The Greater Thames Priority Landscape covers 110,000ha in total and includes internationally important wetland habitats that are under threat from changes to agriculture, sea-level rise, economic growth and housing development.
8.2 Designated Sites
Natural England records show that there are no international or European designated sites within Castle Point, however many SPAs, SACs and Ramsars are located near / adjacent to the Plan area. The following table shows those that are within 22km of the Plan area (within Zones of Influence).
32 http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk/biodiversity-action-plan
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Table 39: Habitats Sites within 22 km Zone of Influence of allocations for development
Site Location Scoped in or out
South Essex on the Thames coastline coast, including Hadleigh Ray Benfleet and Southend between the north east This Habitat site falls partly within the Borough. Within Marshes SPA and Ramsar coastline of Canvey Island the ZOI as identified on MAGIC. site and southern edge of Hadleigh Castle County Park.
A small area at Mucking, Essex, 4km east (upstream) of site. Also, Thames Estuary and large amount on North Within the ZOI for Northern shore of Thames Estuary Marshes SPA and Ramsar Kent coast. Functionally and Marshes SPA and Ramsar site. site linked land within the Borough, particularly Holehaven Creek.
No IRZ shown on MAGIC but a small part of the site Outer Thames Estuary SPA Covers most marine overlaps with Castle Point Borough inshore coastal (marine) areas near to Essex coast waters.
Estuaries from Clacton on Castle Point is within the ZOI of for underpinning Essex Estuaries SAC Sea to Southend SSSIs.
Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Castle Point is within the ZOI of Foulness (Mid-Essex Covers south east corner Phase 5) SPA and Ramsar Coast Phase 5) SPA and Ramsar site as identified on of Essex, near Southend site MAGIC.
Blackwater Estuary (Mid- Estuary from Maldon to Castle Point is within the ZOI of Blackwater Estuary Essex Coast Phase 4) SPA Mersea Island SPA and Ramsar site as identified on MAGIC. and Ramsar site
Estuaries from South Crouch and Roach Estuaries Castle Point is within the ZOI of Crouch and Roach Woodham Ferrers, (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 3) Estuaries (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 3) SPA and between Dengie SPA and Ramsar site Ramsar site as identified on MAGIC. Peninsular and Foulness
Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Dengie Peninsula, east of Castle Point is within the ZOI of Dengie (Mid-Essex Phase 1) SPA and Ramsar Maldon and Burnham-on- Coast Phase 1) SPA and Ramsar site as identified on site Crouch MAGIC.
Medway Estuary and Estuary near Sheerness Outside the ZOI of Medway Estuary and Marshes Marshes SPA and Ramsar (Kent) SPA and Ramsar site as identified on MAGIC. site
The Swale SPA and Ramsar Estuary south of the Isle Outside the ZOI of The Swale SPA and Ramsar site site of Shelley (Kent) as identified on MAGIC.
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Site Location Scoped in or out
Castle Point is outside the ZOI of Peters Pit SAC as Peters Pit SAC South of Rochester (Kent) identified on MAGIC.
North Downs Woodlands South and south west of Castle Point is outside the ZOI of North Downs SAC Rochester (Kent) Woodlands SAC as identified on MAGIC.
South east of Gillingham Castle Point is outside the ZOI for Queendown Queendown Warren SAC (Kent) Warren SAC as identified on MAGIC.
A Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) has been prepared by Place Services for the Pre-Submission Local Plan 2018 to 2033, including modifications proposed as a consequence of the Regulation 19 consultation to enable Castle Point Borough Council to comply with Regulation 63 of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended).
As the policies contained in the Pre-Submission Local Plan could not rule out Likely Significant Effects on Habitats (European) Sites at Stage 1 HRA Screening, there was a need for further assessment of impacts and Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment was necessary. A number of policies within the Local Plan required further assessment and consideration of mitigation, which has since been undertaken at Appropriate Assessment stage and the details are set out below, within this report.
This Habitats Regulation Assessment has been updated in view of the modifications made since the Regulation 19 Consultation during the winter period of 2019, and also to consider comments on the HRA arising from Natural England and from other representations. The HRA has considered the elements of the Pre-Submission Local Plan, including proposed modifications, which required further assessment of their potential to result in Adverse Effects on the Integrity of one of more Habitats Site.
There are a wide range of potential impacts upon Habitats Sites which could arise as a result of components of the Local Plan; the following impact pathways have been considered most likely to have potential to cause an Adverse Effect on Site Integrity:
• Habitat loss and fragmentation / land take by development;
• Loss of functionally linked land (land outside the SPA and Ramsar site);
• Increase of any type of disturbance;
• Changes in water availability, or water quality;
• Changes in atmospheric pollution levels.
On the whole, many potential adverse effects will be avoided with use of Construction Environment Management Plans; the requirement for project-level HRAs; and policies requiring that there will be no adverse effect to provide further certainty. The Appropriate Assessment has recommended a number of amendments to the Castle Point Local Plan. These include the following:
• Recommended policy wording changes (including NE5).
• Recommending that the supporting text for the policy needs amending, e.g. strengthening of the supporting text for NE7 (Pollution Control).
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• Incorporation of the Thames Estuary and Marshes SPA and Ramsar site (as well as Benfleet and Southend
Marshes) into designated site protection policies
• To embed a monitoring and Iterative Plan Review (IPR) provision into the Local Plan as there is a lack of detail over the precise effects of Policy SP TP2 for a proposed new third access to Canvey Island. This will enable the delivery of development to be managed and the plan (and its HRA) to be updated in future reviews.
• Use of Asset Management Plans (AMPs) to deliver relevant sections of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan – and therefore elements of the Six-Point Plan - aimed at increasing capacity and avoiding water pollution to SPAs and Ramsar sites.
Nationally designated sites include 6 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). There are also 40 locally important nature conservation areas which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites (LoWSs). The LoWSs within the Borough have a total area of 872.1 hectares. Natural England states that their consideration will need to be given to Functionally Linked Land, as well as the designated sites themselves.
The 6 SSSIs aforementioned are Benfleet and Southend Marshes, Canvey Wick, Garrolds Meadow, Great Wood and Dodds Grove, Holehaven Creek and Thundersley Great Common
Table 40: Condition of Sites of Special Scientific
SSSI name: % Area meeting PSA target of favourable or unfavourable recovering condition
Benfleet and Southend Marshes 92.26%
Canvey Wick 100.00%
Garrolds Meadow 100.00%
Great Wood and Dodd’s Grove 100.00%
Holehaven Creek 100.00%
Thundersley Great Common 100.00%
Source: Data taken from Natural England, June 2018
There is a Public Service Agreement (PSA) target of at least 95% of all nationally important wildlife sites being brought into favourable condition. In Castle Point, 5 of the 6 sites are meeting this target and the sites that don’t are Benfleet and Southend Marshes (8% of its area is not meeting this quality benchmark).
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Figure 25: Location of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Sites
Source: Essex Ecology Services Limited, November 2012
In addition to designated sites, consideration should also be given to non-designated site value in regards to ecology on a site- by-site basis in order to protect, connect and enhance species and habitats, including those that are protected. This could include Greenfield sites and areas of habitat considered to enrich appreciably the habitat resource within the context of local areas, such as species-rich hedgerows, municipal parklands or individual veteran trees.
8.2.1 Essex Coastal Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy
The Essex Coastal Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) is a joint initiative between 11 Essex Local Planning Authorities to identify and mitigate for the recreational impacts new homes will have on the international and nationally protected sites along the Essex Coast. The RAMS is aimed to be implemented at the beginning of 2019.
8.3 Green / Blue Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services
Green Infrastructure (GI) includes land uses such as parks, river corridors, open spaces, playing fields, nature reserves and woodlands, as well as allotments, street trees and private gardens. They provide opportunity for outdoor activities, benefit to wildlife, flood regulation and many other benefits. “Green infrastructure is the network of green spaces and natural elements that intersperse and connect our cities, towns and villages” 33. These areas should be “strategically planned in order to deliver a network of high-quality green spaces and other environmental
33 Green Infrastructure Strategies: an introduction for local authorities and their partners 2008
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features”34. GI is a key consideration in the context of future development and Natural England would anticipate aims towards the creation of robust, high quality GI networks throughout the Borough. This should reflect the intended aims of the Green Infrastructure Strategy which is indicated as being in the development. It is also an important consideration in the context of the emerging strategic solution and the role these networks play in the mitigation of recreational impacts.
GI provides ‘ecosystem services’35 which aim to enhance the overall quality of the area. A Green Infrastructure Strategy is currently being developed for Essex in order to fully understand and maximise the benefits of GI in the County. Natural England sets out five main objectives to incorporate into new developments which are as follows:
- Provide greenspace within 300m of every home
- Support an increase in priority species and habitats in and around new developments
- Provide a wide variety of parks, wild areas and open spaces
- Be equipped to cope with extreme weather events and the effects of climate change
- Be designed to fit into any surrounding landscape and countryside.
A Green Infrastructure Strategy is currently being developed for Essex to fully understand and maximise the benefits of GI in the County. Devising policy criteria in a locally relevant plan-led system to reflect this enables specialist input on a site-by-site basis and the best outcomes considering all alternatives.
There is no strategic Green Infrastructure Strategy for the Plan area at the time of writing. It is proposed that the Plan ensure that policies will ensure such infrastructure is forthcoming through site allocations (and unplanned growth), until that time as the Environment Bill is publicised. The Council intend that a SPD setting our the need and requirements for Green and Blue Infrastructure is forthcoming through the planning system.
8.4 Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain is the principle of development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before, through a hierarchy of avoiding impact in the first instance, then minimising, restoring and, as a last option, creating new habitat elsewhere. It thereby contributes to the integrity of green infrastructure and ecosystem services. There are a number of options set out by Natural England (via Natural England letter provided, dated September 2018) that is set out below.
Objective 1: Conserve and enhance biodiversity (habitats, species and ecosystems) and geodiversity
NE advises that this should reference those relevant European designated sites as the objective should extend to all such designations (as per the hierarchy listed above and in NPPF para 176).
Objective 2: Conserve and enhance water quality and resources
34 Green Infrastructure Strategy for Essex 2018
35 Ecosystem services are defined as ‘The benefits people obtain from ecosystems.’
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NE advises that the SA should confirm whether there is resource availability and whether current infrastructure is sufficient to support the provision of new residential development up to the end of the life of the plan.
Objective 3: Conserve and enhance soil and mineral resources
The inclusion of an objective towards the conservation of soils and ‘Best and Most Versatile’ land is supported. For reference this includes agricultural land of Grade 1, 2 and 3a. NE would anticipate the SA assessment to reflect these within the site specific assessments.
8.5 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues Emerging Issues for for Castle Point Thames Gateway South Essex
The Plan area is in close proximity to a number of Opportunities for Green Infrastructure Strategy. SPAs. recreation. Link to London National Park From the Essex Biodiversity Action Plan (EBAP) Contribution to Essex City. there are 25 species and 10 habitat action plans Green Infrastructure covering Essex. Strategy. There are 6 SSSIs in Canvey Island. Opportunities to 5 of these 6 SSSIs are meeting quality target of encourage biodiversity 100% favourable or unfavourable recovering net gain. condition. Threats to Thames. There is an Essex Coastal Recreational Avoidance, Terrace invertebrates Disturbance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) being through loss of produced and forecast to be delivered by early Brownfield sites. 2019. There are 40 Local Wildlife Sites.
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9. Landscapes
9.1 Landscape Features
A landscape character assessment of Essex was undertaken in 2003. Castle Point falls into two character areas, the Thames Estuary and South Essex Coastal Towns.
The natural characteristics are as follows: wide estuary mouth extending to open sea, flat low lying land south east of Basildon and around Canvey, steep sloping escarpments and ridges, extensive tidal mudflats/sands and fringe saltmarsh, large scale landscape and strong sense of exposure, expansive views, dynamic landscape (tide and weather), rough low grazing marsh, extensive coastal grazing marsh.
Artificial landscape features are as follows: Canvey island (low lying land, street grid pattern, drainage dykes within the built form), rough low grazing marsh, pylons and overhead lines prominent between Basildon and Benfleet, heavy boat traffic, seawalls and dykes, low quality intrusive commercial shed development is common, large oil refineries and oil and gas storage tanks, landfill sites nearby or within the Borough.
Allocating sites and devising policy criteria in a locally relevant plan-led system enables input by landscape specialists on a site-by-site basis and the best outcome considering all alternatives. The National 25 Year Environment Plan outlines the goal of enhancing beauty and engaging with the natural environment, in which the Government aims to:
- Promote the natural environmental as a path for improving health and wellbeing - Review and update existing Green Infrastructure standards and Green Planning Principles to embed environmental net gains into development - Provide a new network of 500,000ha of additional multi-functional wildlife habitat in order to better link existing protected sites with urban green and blue infrastructure
PPG2 ‘Green Belts’ (January 1995) provides guidance on development in the context of Green Belts which is as follows: - To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas; - To prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another; - To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; - To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and - To assist in urban regeneration be encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.
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9.1.1 Ancient Woodland
Figure 26: Ancient Woodland in Castle Point
Source: Essex County Council, 2013
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9.1.2 Protected Lanes & Special Verges
Figure 27: Protected Lanes and Special Verges in Essex
Source: Essex County Council, 2013
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9.2 Agricultural Land Classification
Figure 28: Agricultural Land in Castle Point
Agricultural land is very rarely associated with farming in the Borough. The costs associated with yields have reduced the amount of arable farms in the Borough. Limited cropping occurs in the east of the Borough, most goes unused or is used for grazing. Much of the farmland is being promoted for housing developments.
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9.3 Previously Developed Land
Castle Point has twenty sites on its Brownfield Register which are as follows:
Site Name and Address Min. Net Dwellings
Land at Foksville Road, Canvey Island 10
Vallee Casa, 62 Hill Road, Benfleet 5
166-168 Kiln Road, Benfleet, SS7 1SU 2
1a Clarence Road, South Benfleet, Benfleet SS7 1DE 1
Job Centre, 140 Furtherwick Road, Canvey Island 15
84 Vicarage Hill, Benfleet SS7 1PE 2
240-244 High Road, Benfleet 19
Site adjacent to Pauls Court, Meppel Avenue, Canvey Island 5
271 Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, Benfleet SS7 3XF 16
20 Haresland Close, Hadleigh, SS7 2UT 3
109 Long Road, Canvey Island 7
The Island Site, High Street / London Road, Hadleigh 54
88 High Street, Hadleigh 4
Admiral Jellico Public House, 283 High Street, Canvey Island 15
Outpatients centre, Long Road, Canvey Island 10
343 Rayleigh Road, Thundersley 10
125-127 High Street, Canvey Island 14
4-12 Park Chase, Hadleigh, Benfleet, SS7 2BZ 21
Prout Industrial Estate, Point Road, Canvey Island 27
Benfleet Tavern Public House, High Road, Benfleet 14
Total: 254
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9.4 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Emerging Issues for Issues for Thames Gateway Castle Point South Essex
Castle Point falls into two character areas, the Opportunities to use the Green Infrastructure Strategy. Thames Estuary and South Essex Coastal Towns. brownfield sites ahead of Link to London National Park There are 20 brownfield sites on the Brownfield any sites in the City. Register with 254 minimum net dwellings. greenbelt. Very little agricultural land is used for farming. Contribution to Essex Green Infrastructure There are no protected lanes in the Borough. Strategy. There is limited ancient woodland in the Borough.
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10. Water Environment
10.1 Water Courses
Beneath the River Basin District, catchment management plans are produced. In Essex, the Essex Rivers Hub works with partners and communities to protect and enhance rivers and watercourses. Anglian Water is the water and water recycling company serving over six million customers across the East of England. On Canvey Island, Anglian Water is the organisation responsible for the foul sewerage network. Anglian Water also own and maintain a number of surface water drainage systems on the Island.
The Environment Agency (EA) is the organisation with overall responsibility for strategic flood risk management in England. They are responsible for the management of flooding from designated main river watercourses and the sea, as well as holding regulatory powers of enforcement over tidal and main river flood defences. Their role in the statutory planning consultations will continue to ensure that new developments are flood resilient and mitigate flood risk, as outlined in The 25 Year Environment Plan.
There are four main rivers located within Castle Point Borough: Prittle Brook, Benfleet Hall Sewer, Kersey Marsh Sewer and Hadleigh Marsh Sewer.
Canvey Island is divided from the mainland area of Castle Point Borough by Benfleet Creek. The Southern side of the Island is bordered by the River Thames and the remaining sides of Canvey are bordered by the Holehaven Creek and East Haven Creek.
Castle Point Borough Council owns the lake and a number of other drainage features on the Island, and is the organisation that is responsible for local planning. Castle Point Borough Council is also the authority who manages social housing on the Island, making them a riparian owner of some private drainage, and they offer advice and support on flood recovery.
10.2 Water Quality
Each River Basin District across England has a management plan, which has been formed to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. Castle Point falls into the Thames District. Under the Directive, the UK must ensure that there is no deterioration in the quality of its water bodies, and that all water bodies improve to reach good ecological status as soon as possible. There are currently no catchment plans or projects for the rivers in Castle Point.
The Catchment Based Approach36 outlines two main objectives to improve water quality which are:
- Delivering positive and sustained outcomes for the water environment by promoting a better understanding of the environment at a local level; and
- Encouraging local collaboration and more transparent decision-making when both planning and delivering activities to improve the water environment.
36 Catchment Based Approach: Improving the quality of our water environment 2013
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Each River Basin District across England has a management plan37, which has been formed to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. Castle Point falls into the Thames District. Under the Directive, the UK must ensure that there is no deterioration in the quality its water bodies, and that all water bodies improve to reach ‘good ecological statuses’ as soon as possible. The management plan details the issues relating to water quality and how to address them.
Beneath the River Basin District, catchment management plans are produced. In Essex, the Essex Rivers Hub38 works with partners and communities to protect and enhance rivers and watercourses. There are currently no catchment plans or projects for the rivers in Castle Point.
10.3 Flood Risk
According to the South Essex Surface Water Management Plan 201239, the main cause of surface water flooding within Castle Point is relating to the watercourse channels of the Benfleet Creek, Prittle Brook and tributaries of these. The most recent South Essex Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment states that the majority of the Castle Point Borough (56%) is defined as Flood Zone 1 within the north of the Borough, 39% is located within Flood Zone 3 and 5% is defined as Flood Zone 2 to the south of the Borough.40 Tidal and fluvial flooding are identified as the most significant flood risk to the Borough, in particular Canvey Island and Hadleigh Marshes and Canvey Island is at residual risk of flooding if its defences were to fail or to be overtopped41. If this were to happen, floodwaters would propagate rapidly across Canvey Island and low lying areas of the mainland providing challenges for warning and evacuation of those affected. Canvey Island is also at the highest risk of surface water flooding, with a high probability of surface water flooding across the Borough as a whole. Some of this can be attributed to the management of the drainage system according to the AECOM report.
The southern part of South Benfleet and Hadleigh are located within Flood Zone 2 and 3 as well as a small area along the course of the Prittle Brook. These are protected from the Prittle Brook and Benfleet Hall Sewer through high ground and embankments, however there is still a residual risk. The 25 Year Environment Plan however, states that between 2015 and 2021, Government is to invest £2.6bn in flood defence projects in order to make home more resilient to flooding.
The Holehaven Creek SSSI is partially within Castle Point and is hydrologically sensitive. The tidal creek system acts as the principal drain for the surrounding grazing marshes and forms a confluence at Holehaven with the River Thames. The Canvey Wick SSSI is also hydrologically sensitive. The site is dominated by free-draining grassland and wetland features42.
Recognising this flood risk, Multi-Agency Partnership produced the Canvey Island 6-Point Plan43 aims to increase the resilience of Canvey Island’s communities and businesses to flooding as follows:
Point Description
Point 1 – Property level Both of the detailed investigations into flooding on the island recommended urgent flood protection action, to protect properties (both homes and businesses) from the impacts of surface water flooding. Action: Property level flood protected for circa. 15k homes (circa. 40k residents). Cost: £500,000. Impact: High.
37https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/river-basin-management-plans-2015 38 http://www.essexrivershub.org.uk/ 39 South Essex Surface Water Management Plan April 2012 40 South Essex Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment AECOM April 2018 41 Castle Point Borough Council Level 1 & 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2010 42 South Essex Water Cycle Study 2011 43 Canvey Island 6-Point Plan (Multi-Agency Partnership, November 2015)
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Point Description Point 2 – Canvey Lake The Section 19 Flood Investigation Report, published by Essex LLFA in September 2014, recommended a thorough investigation into the capacity available in the Canvey Lake. The lake, strategically located in the centre of the Island, forms part of the Island’s surface water drainage system and so ensuring it is kept in a good condition and able to receive surface water during storm events is vital. Action: Dredge, re-profile and maintain Canvey Lake. Cost: £2,000,000. Impact: High.
Point 3 – Increasing Detailed work has been underway for the last two years, building an Integrated Urban capacity of the drainage Drainage (IUD) model. This sophisticated computer model has given the MAP a much infrastructure greater insight into the capacity and capability of the current drainage network on the Canvey Island. Now complete, the model allows the team to run complex scenarios highlighting the impact of rainfall events of differing scales. Action: Increased drainage Infrastructure capacity. Cost: £16,000,000. Impact: High.
Point 4 – Building resilient The MAP and other key stakeholder on Canvey Island have, for a long time, held the and informed communities view that collaboration is the key to managing the risks of surface water flooding. Great strides have been taken to bring together stakeholder organisations and this has paid dividends. However, more needs to be done to inform, educate and engage local communities. The MAP would like to invest £2m to build long term resilience on the Island. Action: Canvey Resilient Communities Programme. Cost: £2,000,000. Impact: Medium.
Point 5 – Innovation in There are many new technologies now available on the market that could be installed flood management to help reduce the risk of surface water flooding on Canvey Island. The MAP would like technologies to invest £2m of funding into systems that would increase early warning of flood events and speed up the response to such events. Action: Development of new innovative technologies. Cost: £2,000,000. Impact: Medium.
Point 6 – Investment in The MAP is keen to explore what options are available to increase the amount of green surface water ‘green’ surface water storage across the Island. This would provide additional storage storage for excess rainwater in storm events, reducing the amount of water that hits the drainage network at the same time. Some early options being explored including re- profiling the Winter Gardens Primary School playing fields to reduce their level by 1m, and the installation of attenuating water butts at properties locate in the most ‘at risk’ areas on the Island. All public space will be reviewed for its ability to hold back rain water. Action: Investment in ‘Green Infrastructure’. Cost: £2,000,000. Impact: Medium.
Essex County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority covering Canvey Island. They coordinate local flood risk management activities and flood response. Essex County Council Highways Department is also the authority responsible for the ownership and management of the highways drainage network. As well as these responsibilities, Essex County Council holds powers to regulate ordinary watercourses through consents and enforcement. In order to plan sustainably, the following points must be incorporated:
- A SuDS needs to be planned at the earliest stage of the planning process and integrated with general landscape design and maintenance;
- SuDS on or near the land surface are far more cost-effective than below-ground proprietary systems;
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- Working in the broadest possible partnership offers the greatest potential to maximise benefits and lever
additional funding; and
- The significant role of ‘champions’ in obtaining ‘buy-in’, managing relationships using voluntary agreements, and in promoting successful delivery and continuing functions of SuDS.
As outlined in the New Local Plan Sequential and Exception Test for Housing Site Options, where a site is outside a critical drainage area, it is considered appropriate for development, in terms of surface water risk. Where a site is within a critical drainage area, consideration has been given to the potential to use source and pathway methods of surface water management to prevent flooding elsewhere44.
10.4 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues for Emerging Issues for Castle Point Thames Gateway South Essex
Increased demand on existing water Development must not give rise Need to ensure there is resources and sustainability of water to deterioration in water quality. sufficient infrastructure to supply. In relation to water quality and support sustainable growth and Increased requirement for wastewater biodiversity, that a suitable there is no deterioration of the treatment and increased demand on amount of recreational land must water environment. existing wastewater infrastructure ensuring be incorporated into In relation to water quality and sufficient capacity. development. biodiversity, that a suitable Negative impacts on water quality through Ensuring that there is sufficient amount of recreational land inappropriate development. sewerage infrastructure to must be incorporated into development. Climatic change and possible more accommodate additional growth extreme weather events. and development, with minimal Current sewerage infrastructure impacts on river and groundwater and implications for river Deterioration of the wildlife in estuaries and quality. groundwater quality; wastewater rivers. Need to ensure development treatment and the quality of the Changes in leisure activities affecting the meets/ mitigates the demands of water environment should be coasts and estuaries. extreme weather and climatic addressed in the Local Plan. The impact of increased tourism including changes. the England Coastal Path, free swimming,
kayaking. Potential impact on local bathing water sites in the area. Both interims of increased tourism impact but also on bathing water quality.
44 New Local Plan Sequential and Exception Test for Housing Site Options
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11. Climate and Energy
11.1 Energy Consumption and Emissions
One aim from the Essex Organisation Strategy is to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs not only for the public but for businesses too. This can be achieved by developing new strategies that promote clean growth and renewable energies. The tables below outline the energy consumption patterns of Castle Point.
Table 41: Energy consumption – stats are correct for castle point. Needs % and commentary
Resource Castle Point % of Total East of England % of Total Energy (GWh) Energy (GWh) Consumption Consumption
Coal 4.8 0.38 2,581.4 1.96
Manufactured 2.2 0.17 238.1 0.18 Fuels
Natural Gas 577 45.5 42,051.9 31.93
Electricity 259.6 20.47 27,272.2 20.71
Petroleum 398.5 31.42 56,402.6 42.83 Products
Bioenergy and 26.19 2.06 3,150 2.39 Wastes
Total 1268.29 100 131,696.20 100
Source: BEIS, updated 2015
Castle Point Borough consumes more energy from unrenewable sources as a percentage of their consumption compared to the East of England as a whole. Just under half of the Borough’s 1268.29GWh energy consumption is from Natural Gas at 45.5%. Only 26.19GWh of energy consumed is from bioenergy and waste products.
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Table 42: Energy consumption from renewable sources
Local Authority Percentage of Total Local Authority Percentage of Total Energy Consumption Energy Consumption from Renewable from Renewable Bioenergy and Waste Bioenergy and Waste Sources Sources
Basildon 0.11% Epping Forest 0.12%
Braintree 0.39% Harlow 0.07%
Brentwood 0.10% Maldon 0.92%
Castle Point 0.14% Rochford 0.24%
Chelmsford 0.24% Tendring 0.39%
Colchester 0.27% Uttlesford 0.57%
Source: DECC, updated 2014 data
0.14% of Castle Point Boroughs total energy consumption comes from renewable sources, a relatively low percentage compared to the other districts within Essex.
Table 43: CO2 emissions by source
Industry and Domestic (kt) Transport (kt) Total (kt) Commercial (kt)
Castle Point 43.6 (14.69%) 146.4 (49.34%) 107.8 (36.33%) 296.7
Essex 1,710.2 (23.37%) 2,294.4 (31.35%) 3,479.2 (47.54%) 7,318.4
East of England 9,750.9 (29.55%) 9,516.1 (28.84%) 14,080.8 (42.68%) 32,993.5
Source: DECC, updated 2016 data
In Castle Point Borough, the industry and commercial sector produces the smallest amount of carbon dioxide at 14.69% while domestic produces the most at 49.34%. When compared to the East of England proportionately more emissions of CO2 are produced by transport in the Essex and the East of England as a whole.
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Table 44: Reduction of CO2 emissions per capita
Area % per capita reduction Area % per capita reduction of CO2 since 2005 of CO2 since 2005
Basildon 20.9% Epping Forest 19.4%
Braintree 18.7% Harlow 25.0%
Brentwood 16.0% Maldon 21.4%
Castle Point 14.6% Rochford 18.5%
Chelmsford 11.4% Tendring 11.5%
Colchester 20.0% Uttlesford 21.3%
Essex 17.6%
Source: DECC, 2013 data
Castle Point Borough has reduced the annual amount of CO2 being emitted per capita by 14.6% relative to the 2005 baseline. This is lower than the Essex average.
Table 45: Number of Code for Sustainable Homes Certificates Issued by Local Authority within Essex to Date (up to March 2011)
Area Design Stage Post Construction Total Stage
Basildon 350 64 414
Braintree 158 166 324
Brentwood 59 16 75
Castle Point 17 0 17
Chelmsford 183 114 297
Colchester 229 47 276
Epping Forest 118 0 118
Harlow 26 21 47
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Area Design Stage Post Construction Total Stage
Maldon 129 21 150
Rochford 0 0 0
Tendring 0 0 0
Uttlesford 64 61 125
Overall Essex Average 116 66 182
Overall Essex Total 1,449 576 2,025
Source: DCLG, 2011
Up to March 2011 Castle Point Borough had issued 17 certificates, 17 at the design stage and 0 post-construction. This total number is considerably lower than the Essex average of 116 certificates issued.
11.2 Climate Change
According to UK Climate Projections under a medium emission scenario the temperature in the East of England has a 67% likelihood of increasing between 1 and 2°C by 2020. By 2050, the temperature is predicted to increase to between 2 and 3°C across the region. Mean summer precipitation has a 67% likelihood of decreasing by up to 10% across the whole region by 2020 and by 2050 the south of the East of England will see decreases by up to 20%. In contrast the mean winter precipitation is predicted to increase by up to 10% across the region by 2020. By 2050 much of the region is expected to see a mean winter precipitation increase of between 10 and 20% apart from a band in the centre of the region which is expected to witness increases of between 20 and 30%. Source: Met Office UKCP (2014). Climate change allowances are based on climate change projections and different scenarios of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere45.
The transport industry is responsible for the 36.33% of CO2 emissions within Castle Point, industry and commercial consumption totals 14.69% and the majority of emissions are associated with domestic energy use (49.34%). Castle Point is ranked as the eighth district/borough in Essex for per capita reductions in CO2 emissions with 14.6% which is lower than the county percentage of 17.6%.
45 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessments-climate-change-allowances
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11.3 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues for Emerging Issues for Castle Point Thames Gateway South Essex
Castle Point has a low percentage of total To ensure provision of more To ensure provision of more energy consumption from renewable energy efficient homes energy efficient homes bioenergy and waste sources In Castle Point Borough domestic practices produces the most at carbon dioxide at 49.34% - a percentage significantly higher than regionally and nationally.
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12. Air
12.1 Air Quality
There are currently no Air Quality Management Areas in Castle Point Borough and results from the monitoring points across the Borough suggest that air quality is improving. Nitrogen dioxide is monitored using diffusion tubes at 30 monitoring locations across the borough and there is also a continuous analyser site which will provides real-time nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide monitoring information. Castle Point Borough Council does not currently monitor PM2.5 concentrations.
The main source of air pollution in the Borough relates to road traffic emissions, particularly from the principal roads in the Borough, the A13, A127 and A130. There is also pollution from commercial, industrial and domestic sources, and potential transboundary pollution sources, such as the power stations along the Thames Estuary and the oil refinery in Thurrock.
The Borough has the following actions to assess and improve air quality:
• Carrying out a study at a kerbside monitoring location (CP15 - adjacent to a bus stop lay by) to identify whether a bus replacement programme with newer and hybrid vehicles is leading to reduced air pollution concentrations
• An audit of diffusion tube locations has been completed. Monitored concentrations for 2016 and future reporting will reflect improved monitoring locations.
• Working with the Community Policing Team to target parking and congestion outside of schools.
• Crossing Challenge. Review of congestion pinch points at junctions and pedestrian crossings where relocation or traffic management works could reduce congestion and emissions from standing vehicles.
The’ Essex Air’ Air Quality Report for Castle Point (2019) indicates that no monitoring stations within the Borough (diffusion tubes) were displaying exceedances in air quality objectives in 2018. This ensures that no allocations will experience air quality issues, however the increase in emissions from population growth will need to be monitored, for both health and biodiversity reasons.
There are number of atmospheric pollutants which can result in direct or indirect impacts to Habitats sites. These impacts are usually caused when the qualifying features are plants, soils and wetland habitats. For example, saltmarsh eutrophication could lead to successional vegetation change. However, some species may also be indirectly impacted from air pollution causing changes in habitat composition. The primary contributor to atmospheric pollution is transport related activities. Therefore, the main pollutants to atmospheric pollution are considered to be oxides of nitrogen (NOx) or sulphur dioxide (SO2) from traffic emissions. However, high intensities of agricultural practices are also considered to have a significant impact to air pollution. Potential impacts from pollutants and their sources have been highlighted within Table 4.
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Table 46: Main sources and effects of air pollutants on Habitat Sites
Effects on habitats and Pollutants Source species
SO2, NOx and ammonia all contribute to acid Can affect habitats and species from deposition. Although future trends in sulphur acid rain, as well as, dry deposition. emissions and subsequent deposition to Some habitats will be more susceptible Acid Deposition terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems will depending on soil type, geology, continue to decline, it is likely that increased weathering rate and buffering capacity. nitrogen emissions may cancel out any gains produced by reduced sulphur levels
Ammonia is released following decomposition Adverse effects are as a result of and volition of animal wastes. It is naturally nitrogen deposition leading to occurring trace gas, but levels have increased eutrophication. As emissions mostly considerably within increased agricultural occur at ground level in the rural
practices. Ammonia reacts with acid pollutants environment and NH3 is rapidly Ammonia (NH3) such as the products of SO2 and NOx deposited, some of the most acute
emissions to produce fine ammonium (NH4) problems of NH3 are for small relict containing aerosol which may be transferred nature reserves located near to much longer distances (Can therefore be a intensive agricultural landscapes. significant trans-boundary issue).
Nitrogen oxides are mostly primarily produced Deposition of nitrogen compounds in combustion processes, such as coal fire (Nitrates, nitrogen dioxide and nitrate power stations. acid), can lead to both soil and freshwater acidification. In addition,
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) nitrogen compounds can cause eutrophication of soils and water. This alters the species composition of plant communities and can eliminate sensitive species.
The pollutants that contribute to nitrogen Species-rich plant communities with
deposition derive mainly from NOx and NH3 relatively high proportions of slow emissions. These pollutants cause growing perennial species and acidification (see also acid deposition) as well bryophytes are most at risk from as eutrophication. Nitrogen eutrophication, due to its Nitrogen deposition (N) promotion of competitive and invasive species which can respond readily to elevated levels of N. N disposition can also increase the risk of damage from abiotic factors e.g. drought and frost.
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Effects on habitats and Pollutants Source species
A secondary pollutant generated by Concentrations of O3 above 40 ppb can
photochemical reactions from NOx and volatile be toxic to humans and wildlife and can organic compounds. These are mainly affect buildings. Increased ozone released by the combustion of fossil fuels in concentrations may lead to a reduction the UK has led to a large increase in in growth of agricultural crops
Ozone (O3) background ozone concentration, leading to decreased forest production and an increased number of days when levels altered species composition in semi- across the region are above 40ppb. Reducing natural plant communities. ozone pollution is believed to require action at international level to reduce levels of the precursors that form ozone.
Wet and dry depositions of Sulphur Main sources of Sulphur Dioxide emission are Dioxide acidify soils and freshwater electricity generation, industry and domestic and alters the species composition of fuel combustion. May also arise from shipping plant and associated animal Sulphur Dioxide SO2 and increased atmospheric concentrations in communities. The significance of busy ports. Total sulphur dioxide emissions impacts depends on levels of have decreased substantially in the UK since deposition and the buffering capacity of the 1980’s. soils.
The World Health Organisation46 has determined the critical threshold of NOx concentrate for the protection of vegetation at 30 µgm-3 (one-millionth of a gram per cubic meter air) and critical threshold of sulphur dioxide at 20µgm-3. Consequently, studies have been undertaken to determine the ‘critical loads’ of atmospheric nitrogen deposition (that is, NOx combined with ammonia NH3) for various habitats within Habitats Sites.
Nitrogen deposition has been determined as being at critical levels for the Essex Estuaries and Greater Thames Complex and has been included as a key vulnerability/ factors affecting site integrity for the Site Improvement Plans for these sites. No other pollutants listed above have been identified as a factor affecting site integrity and the Local Plan does not relate to agricultural practices. However, impacts caused by these pollutants may not be known due to lack of evidence on local impacts.
12.2 Noise
Ambient or environmental noise is defined as sound which is either unwanted or harmful. It is created by human activities and includes noise emitted by transport including road traffic and air traffic, and is generated from sites of industrial activity. There are a number of busy roads in the borough and these generate ambient noise which can
46 World Health Organisation (2006). WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/69477/WHO_SDE_PHE_OEH_06.02_eng.pdf;jsessionid=E274B7697403E0EC 4B008261B936A0F4?sequence=1
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impact people living or working nearby.
Table 47: Summary of terms used
Term Explanation
dB(A) A unit of sound pressure level, adjusted in accordance with the A waiting scale, a scale which takes into account the increased sensitivity of the human ear at some frequencies.
Lden Day-evening-night noise indicator. It is the noise indicator for overall annoyance
Lnight Night-time noise indicator between the hours of 2300 – 0700 hours. It is the noise indicator for sleep disturbance
Source: Taken from EU Noise Directive 2002/49/EC and Defra
Large areas of land around the Borough’s strategic roads have noise impacts at 55-75 dB.
12.3 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Issues Emerging Issues for for Castle Point Thames Gateway South Essex
The main source of air pollution in the Borough Development should Development should strike a relates to road traffic emissions, particularly from strike a balance between balance between connectivity the principal roads in the Borough, the A13, A127 connectivity and potential and potential noise and air and A130. There is also pollution from commercial, noise and air quality quality impacts through effective industrial and domestic sources, and potential impacts through effective mitigation. transboundary pollution sources, such as the power mitigation. stations along the Thames Estuary and the oil refinery in Thurrock. Large areas of land around the Borough’s strategic roads have noise impacts at 55-75 dB.
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13. Material Assets (including soil, minerals and waste)
The waste hierarchy, in accordance with the Revised Waste Framework Directive, specifies the promotion of waste prevention, and material and energy recovery (e.g. direct re-use, recycling and treatment to make new objects) prior to disposal.
13.1 Local Authority Collected Waste
There is a significant amount of waste collected by the Waste Collection Authorities, of which Castle Point Borough Council is one, via direct kerbside collections (household waste), litter and street cleaning. Waste is also directly collected by the Waste Disposal Authority (ECC) through Recycling Centres for Household Waste. In addition, for a fee, local authorities collect some waste from small commercial enterprises. Collectively this is known as Local Authority Collected Waste (LACW). Waste is also directly collected by the Waste Disposal Authority (ECC) through Recycling Centres for household waste. With further development and an increase in population, waste arising is likely to increase.
Table 48: Local Authority Collected Waste April 2013 - March 2014
Authority Household Household Household Total Total Waste to Waste Waste Household Recycled or Landfill Reused or Composted Waste Composted (Tonnes) Recycled (Tonnes) (Tonnes) (%) (Tonnes)
Castle Point 14,497 9,759 7,833 32,089 54.82 Borough Council
WCA Total 266,606 139,892 125,160 531,658 49.85
Plus Essex CC 53,850 51,393 32,038 137,280 60.77 Recycling Centres
Essex Total 320,456 191,284 157,198 668,938 52.09
Source: Essex County Council, 2014
13.2 Transfer Facilities
Six transfer facilities have been granted planning permission within Essex and Southend, to support a materials recovery facility, in Basildon. These will, once constructed, accept waste from the Waste Collection Authority vehicles directly from kerbside collection. Here, waste will be accumulated and prepared for transportation to Basildon.
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Table 49: Local Authority Collected Waste Transfer Facility Status
Transfer Facility Planning Throughput Expected / Actual Expected Permission (Tonnes Per construction Operation Start reference/date Annum, tpa) Start Date Date
Harlow ESS/38/11/HLW 55,000 April 2013 Operational as of To serve Harlow and 23/09/2011 (construction early August 2014 Epping Forest underway)
Gt Dunmow ESS/18/12/UTT 29,400 Build start date yet 9-month To serve Uttlesford 22/06/2012 to be agreed construction period following Judicial from date of Review proceedings commencement on site.
Chelmsford ESS/31/13/CHL 90,000 Under Judicial Unknown. To serve 13/08/2013 Review with Court of If appeal refused 12 Appeal. Chelmsford and (amended month construction Maldon permission Build start date yet period from date of ESS/65/12/CHL) to be agreed commencement on site.
Braintree ESS/23/13/BTE 71,250 March 2014 January 2015 To serve Braintree 26/07/2013 (construction underway)
A120 (west) ESS/16/13/TEN 115,000 October 2013 September 2014 To serve Colchester 28/06/2013 (construction and Tendring underway)
67,900 An existing waste management site within Southend Existing Site Southend BC since 1968, but requires To serve Southend alterations for this use
Total LACW Transfer Throughput 428,550 tpa
Source: Essex County Council 2014
13.3 The Replacement Waste Local Plan for Essex and Southend-on- Sea
The Replacement Waste Local Plan (Revised Preferred Options) Document 2015, as published by Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea as the combined Waste Planning Authority, the plan does not allocate any sites within
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Castle Point Borough.
13.4 Waste Miles
There are two distinct types of imports and exports concerning waste, firstly the localised cross boundary movement of waste and the long distance waste travel. The localised cross boundary movements of waste usually occur between adjacent waste planning authorities because the closest waste facility for the arising’s are just over the authority boundary. An example of this could be waste arising in the South Benfleet area of Castle Point in Essex being transported in to a facility in the London Borough of Havering, as this represents fewer ‘waste miles’.
13.5 Anaerobic Digestion (AD)
In Essex, there are currently no active waste fed AD plants. It is likely that the Waste and Local Planning Authorities will receive further applications for waste, ‘energy crop’ fed AD facilities respectively as the technology advances, and barriers are removed in line with the AD strategy and action plan.
13.6 Commercial and Industrial Waste (CD&I)
This is that waste arising from wholesalers, catering establishments, shops and offices (in both the public and private sector), factories and industrial plants. It can include a number of materials such as food, paper, card, wood, glass, plastics and metals. Increases in growth in these sectors as a result of the Local Plan may require an increase in facilities to manage such waste. These can include biological treatment facilities, such as composting (in the first instance), or non-hazardous landfill facilities.
13.7 Construction, Demolition and Evacuation Waste (CD&E)
This is waste that is biologically stable and does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological transformations. This can be in the form of certain types of:
• Construction wastes (e.g. surplus supplies of bricks specifically required for a single project);
• Demolition wastes (e.g. used material resulting from demolition activities); or
• Excavation wastes (e.g. usually consisting of soils and stones which cannot be used beneficially, such as from tunnelling projects or ‘overburden’ from removing soils from an area in preparation for mineral excavation).
Essex County Council, as the WPA for Essex, has identified a shortfall in available capacity for this waste stream by 2031/32. There is a requirement for an additional 1.27 million tonnes per annum of CD&E Waste recovery capacity by 2031/32, which would remove the need to allocate inert landfill capacity completely. It is estimated that without development of increased CD&E Waste recovery capacity (as specified above), there would be a need for inert landfill totalling approximately 16 million tonnes (or 10.64 million cubic metres) if no CD&E Waste recycling facilities were bought forward. This waste is a direct result of growth, and the relationship between the Waste Local Plan and
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the Castle Point Borough Local Plan are intrinsically linked in this regard.
13.8 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Emerging Issues for Issues for Thames Gateway Castle Point South Essex
Castle Point recycles / composts more of its waste Increase in development Increase in development and than the WCA and Essex averages. and greater CD&E Waste greater CD&E Waste arising. arising. Increasing population Increasing population generating more waste. generating more waste.
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14. Minerals
14.1 The Adopted Minerals Local Plan 2014
Allocating sites and devising policy criteria in a locally relevant plan-led system enables mineral deposits to be specifically safeguarded in line with Essex County Council input as the relevant minerals planning authority. The absence of a plan could see a number of planning applications come forward that are not aware of designated and safeguarded mineral extraction sites and their protection. Local planning authorities are required to map such sites within their local plan for this purpose.
The predominant solid geology underlying the Castle Point Borough is London Clay.
The MLP summarises a number of key points regarding the geology and mineral infrastructure of the Plan Area:
• Essex has extensive deposits of sand and gravel.
• There are more localised deposits of silica sand, chalk, and brickearth and brick clay.
• Marine dredging takes place in the extraction regions of the Thames Estuary and the East Coast, whilst aggregate is landed at marine wharves located in east London, north Kent, Thurrock, and Suffolk. Essex has no landing wharves of its own.
• There are no hard rock deposits in the County so this material must be imported into Essex. This currently occurs via rail to the existing rail depots at Harlow and Chelmsford.
• Essex is the largest producer and consumer of sand & gravel in the East of England. There are 20 permitted sand & gravel sites, one silica sand site, two brick clay and one chalk site.
• There are two marine wharves and four rail depots capable of handling aggregate CD&E Waste is also recycled at 29 dedicated and active aggregate recycling sites (2011).
• Aggregate is both imported into Essex (hard rock, and sand and gravel) and exported (sand and gravel, primarily to London). Map 3 shows the movement of aggregate in and out of Essex.
Source: Essex County Council Adopted Minerals Plan (2014)
14.1.1 Sand & Gravel
Essex has extensive Kesgrave formation of sand and gravel which was laid down during the Ice Age and in river terraces. The river terrace deposits are found not only along current river valleys, but also in historic river channels that are now dry.
The sand and gravel resources in Essex are:
• Significant in national, sub-national and local terms - Essex is one of the largest producers in the UK,
• Most geographically extensive and significantly mixed within the centre and north of Essex – namely the districts of Uttlesford, Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester and Tendring,
• Least extensive in south east Essex where deposits appear smallest and least workable, such as in the districts of Maldon and Rochford,
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• Present along the River Lea valley terraces adjoining Harlow and Epping Forest districts,
• Mixed deposits capable of being processed to supply a range of construction products including building sand, sharp sands and gravel,
• Used as a raw material to produce concrete, mortar, asphalt and construction fill which is used in the construction industry and for roads.
The majority of the sand and gravel produced in Essex (about 78%) is used within the County itself. This position looks unlikely to change over the long-term. Consequently the main factor influencing production of sand and gravel in the future will be the need to meet the minerals demand for the whole of Essex created by major development and new infrastructure projects within Essex itself.
Source: Essex County Council Adopted Minerals Plan (2014)
14.1.2 Chalk
Chalk is one of the mainstays of ‘solid geology’ under Essex and is the oldest rock exposed at the surface. The chalk resources in Essex are:
• Extensive under the surface but outcrop only in the north west, particularly in Uttlesford District
• Currently extracted at only one site in the form of white chalk at Newport Quarry
• Used mostly for agricultural use, although small quantities are used by the pharmaceutical industry
• Not associated with a land bank in Essex as it is extracted as an industrial mineral rather than as an aggregate
Source: Essex County Council Adopted Minerals Plan (2014)
14.2 Summary
Baseline summary Emerging Emerging Issues for Issues for Thames Gateway Castle Point South Essex
There are no extraction sites or mineral deposits N/A N/A safeguarded by the MPA within Castle Point.
Place Services Essex County Council County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH
T: +44 (0)333 013 6840 E: [email protected] www.placeservices.co.uk
September 2020