Report to Councillor David Finch, Forward Plan reference number: Leader of the Council FP/360/01/16 Date of report: 15 March 2016 County Divisions affected by the decision: All divisions in Borough and divisions adjoining Basildon Borough

Title of report: ECC response to the Basildon Borough Draft New Local Plan Consultation Document, January 2016 Report by Andrew Cook, Director of Operations: Environment and Economy Enquiries to Lesley Stenhouse Principal Planner, lesley.stenhouse@.gov.uk Phone: 03330 136 826

1. Purpose of report

1.1. The purpose of this Cabinet Member Action is to approve the proposed Essex County Council (ECC) formal response to the public consultation of the Basildon Borough Draft New Local Plan Consultation Document (January 2016), as set out in Annex 1.

2. Recommendations

2.1. Agree to send the response in Annex 1 concerning the Basildon Borough Draft New Local Plan Consultation Document.

2.2. Agree that ECC will continue to work with Basildon Borough Council (BBC) as it prepares its Local Plan to ensure the full range of infrastructure requirements arising from growth and development options are appropriate and adequately assessed. ECC will work in partnership with BBC to ensure the delivery of its key services potentially arising from the planned growth.

3. Background and proposal

Background and planning policy context

3.1 The Draft New Local Plan is the document that will guide all development, infrastructure and future planning priorities for BBC between now and 2034. The Local Plan will support the delivery of BBC’s overall vision and its priorities for regeneration, housing and economic growth. The Government requires local authorities to put in place Local Plans which provide certainty for the supply of housing land for a period up to 10 years and ideally up to 15 years, together with proposals for economic growth, infrastructure development and other specific requirements outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

1 3.2 The importance of having an up to date Local Plan for the future development and growth of a local authority’s area was emphasised by the Minister for Housing and Planning (Brandon Lewis M.P.) in July 2015, who stated that the Government will intervene in Local Plan preparation where a local authority has not produced a Local Plan by 2017. The form of this intervention has yet to be determined but the preparation of a new Local Plan by BBC has been prioritised in order to meet the deadline.

3.3 The Basildon Local Plan was adopted in 1999 and the policies were “saved” in September 2007. The Basildon Local Plan Saved Policies (2007) form the interim planning policy framework. The plan was not prepared under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2005 and is not compliant with the NPPF, which came into force in March 2012. As a consequence, BBC has reviewed and updated its emerging draft Local Plan to ensure compliance with national policy with a 20 year plan period of 2014 to 2034. This is now subject to a six week public consultation period from the 28 January to 24 March 2016.

3.4 The preparation of a new Basildon Local Plan has undertaken several iterations and the most recent consultation was the ‘Basildon Local Plan Core Strategy Revised Preferred Options’ in January 2014. ECC was generally supportive of the emerging proposals and resolved to continue to work with BBC to ensure: a. education needs are appropriate and adequately assessed; b. mitigation required at junctions and links where highway capacity has been exceeded is identified; and c. specific and general amendments were recommended to improve consistency with the NPPF and to ensure ECC is able to assist in the delivery of its key services arising from the planned growth.

3.5 Following this consultation, BBC has taken the opportunity to review the suite of Local Plans they had programmed in their Local Development Framework and has now prepared a consolidated Draft New Local Plan. This builds upon the earlier iterations of the Core Strategy (as above) and now includes site allocations, development management policies, and allocations and policies for Gypsy and Traveller provision. The Draft New Local Plan also includes a land allocation which was BBC’s element of the Dunton Garden Suburb Concept Consultation (January 2015) for which ECC withheld support until the evidence was in place.

3.6 The Draft New Local Plan is effectively a “Preferred Options” plan and in accordance with planning policy it includes details of the alternative options considered. It has been prepared and informed by the evidence base, much of which informed the Core Strategy and remains valid, as well as new and “refreshed” evidence to inform the wider scope of the plan. Key evidence and studies include: Employment Land and Premises Study, Landscape Character and Landscape Sensitivity Study; Green Belt Study; Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Local Needs Accommodation Assessment; population projection studies; transport modelling (in consultation with ECC); a South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment; and an Infrastructure Baseline Assessment.

3.7 The consultation also seeks views on a draft New Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal (SA), which assesses the new Local Plan against a range of social,

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environmental and economic indicators and helps to identify all the likely significant effects. This helps to ensure the emerging policies, plans and allocations in the new Local Plan are promoting sustainable development. A Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) also accompanies the consultation, and considers whether the Local Plan would adversely affect a European habitat site.

3.8 ECC has worked with BBC to support the preparation of the Draft New Local Plan through regular dialogue, including highway liaison and duty to co-operate meetings; establishment of a new South Essex Transport Board; and the development of highway modelling, mitigation and high level costings to inform and shape the preferred spatial options and allocations. This engagement has focused on the following ECC functions - highways; infrastructure planning; education and early years and child care; independent living; flood and water management; minerals and waste, as well as other service requirements. That said, this is the first opportunity for ECC to review, in context, all proposals in their entirety in a single draft Local Plan together with the specific site allocations and the accompanying evidence base.

Summary of the Basildon Draft New Local Plan Consultation Document

A. Format

3.9 The consultation document format follows that of the NPPF, starting with the vision & objectives; achieving sustainable development (growth requirements and spatial distribution); economic growth; ensuring vitality and regeneration of town centres; sustainable transport; quality communications infrastructure; high quality homes; good design; healthy communities; green belt protections; meeting the challenges for climate change and flooding; conserving and enhancing both the natural and historic environment; and finally, implementation.

3.10 The format starts with the overarching strategy; then more detailed site allocations, and development management policies. Within each chapter the preferred and alternative options are presented, with the opportunity to identify any further matters that are not addressed within the document.

B. Headlines

3.11 The proposed strategy seeks to meet in full, the objectively assessed need for housing (15,260 new homes) and employment (49ha of land) supported by sufficient infrastructure. The spatial growth is broadly a proportionate distribution of development to the main towns of Basildon, and , based on their population size, and the release of land from the Green Belt for housing and employment uses.

3.12 The strategy proposes the release of 300 ha of land beyond the existing urban area around Basildon, 80 ha around Billericay and 83 ha around Wickford, with the emphasis on significant extensions to the east and west of Basildon. The distribution of future growth is outlined in the table below.

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Table 1 Distribution of Growth

Settlement Settlement New New % of % of type Dwelling Employment New Homes Current Provision Provision Population Main Basildon (including 8,835 48ha 59.3 60.6 settlement , , Noak area Bridge, steeple View and Dunton) Towns Billericay 1,860 0.3ha 12.5 19.9 Wickford 3,300 0.7ha 22.1 17.3 Serviced 45 0.3 0.4 Settlement 45 0.3 0.4 600 4.0 0.5 Un-serviced 13 Plotland 218 1.5 0.9 settlements Settlements Total 14,903* 49ha 100 100 *This exceeds the 14,582 target to be identified once the 2014 housing completions are excluded.

3.13 To deliver the 15,260 new homes, a sequential approach is proposed, to optimise the use of previously developed land in the urban areas for development to deliver 6,500 to 7,000 new homes and 38 ha of industrial land; with the remaining 8,000 to 8,500 new homes and 11 to 14 ha of employment land accommodated by the release of land in the Green Belt.

3.14 The West Basildon Urban Extension allocation, continues to be promoted as originally set out in the Core Strategy (2014), it is not proposed to take this forward as part of a joint Dunton Garden suburb with Brentwood Borough Council. BBC reports that it has not been possible for either Council to resolve the Dunton Garden suburb proposal in isolation to their Local Plans. BBC felt Brentwood BC has not provided sufficient information at this time to show this is the best location for new housing provision in the . Accordingly, BBC has stated that it cannot support a joint approach in their draft Plan.

C. Housing

3.15 Provision is made for 15,260 new residential dwellings (net) to be built over the plan period 2014 to 2034, at an annual average rate of 763 dwellings per annum (dpa) (or 615 dpa in the first 5 years and 822 dpa in the latter 15 years).

3.16 The housing provision is within the range of the Objectively Assessed Need for Housing in the emerging South Essex Strategic Market Housing Assessment 2015 (SMHA). The overall plan provision of 15,260 dwellings is a slight reduction from the previous Core Strategy consultation (16,000 new homes) and this is mainly due to the change in the base date and plan period.

3.17 As indicated above, a sequential approach has been applied to identify the most sustainable locations for development, and the strategy proposes a mix of housing provision to respond to projected needs. This covers: a. specialist accommodation for older people; b. homes for first time buyers / affordable homes; c. pitches for gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople; d. self-build and custom build homes; and 4

e. larger housing to help attract higher skills and professional workers.

3.18 A total of 23 housing allocations are identified, detailing the number, mix and density of housing and the community infrastructure requirements to be provided, such as transport and education.

D. Employment

3.19 Sites set aside for future business growth are primarily focused around Basildon, Laindon and Pitsea and the borough’s town centres, building on the existing clusters of economic activity. It is proposed to continue to set aside land in three locations for new business development that have been allocated since 1998. These are using existing employment land at: a. Ford Dunton; b. Terminus Drive, Pitsea (opposite Pitsea Railway Station); and c. Land to the west of Gardiners Lane South in Basildon.

3.20 These locations are identified as suitable for future business use because of their position within the main employment centre of Basildon, and their access to the main road networks. This is to build on the existing successful business clusters in this area and to use development opportunities to help secure new and upgraded junctions on the A127.

3.21 There is insufficient recycled land to meet the projected employment land requirements to 2034, and 49 ha of land is designated for new business use, to unlock the potential for at least 8,600 local jobs, to be secured from: a. Intensification and regeneration of underutilised land within existing employment areas to provide 38 ha of employment land. b. The allocation of around 11 ha (5.5 ha respectively) of new employment land as eastern and western extensions to the A127 enterprise corridor. c. The allocation of Rural Enterprise Zones within the Green Belt to protect local employment floorspace in rural locations, and to provide local employment opportunities to make the best use of brownfield sites without causing harm to the Green Belt.

3.22 A further 40 ha of employment land is proposed to be safeguarded to the east of Burnt Mills for development beyond the plan period.

E. Community Infrastructure

3.23 A minimum requirement for community infrastructure is identified which will need to be delivered alongside the expansion of the towns and the un/serviced settlements. Developers will be required to either design this infrastructure into their sites or phase the release of land until infrastructure upgrades have been programmed. This is to ensure that developers make the appropriate contributions to meet the costs of providing the improvements. The requirements for infrastructure contributions are outlined within Chapter 18 (Implementation) and include specific reference to ECC’s Developers Guide to Infrastructure Contributions, planning obligations and the preparation of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The draft CIL is to be prepared alongside the Local Plan and will be subject to a separate public consultation.

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3.24 Improvements to community infrastructure are necessary to support new growth, town centre regeneration and vitality of the borough. The proposed Draft Local Plan community infrastructure requirements by 2034 include: a. New schools and nurseries; b. Healthcare services; c. Drainage and flood risk management infrastructure; d. Improved utility infrastructure; and e. Broadband infrastructure.

F. Transport

3.25 Development is focussed on the A127 transport corridor to the east and west of Basildon, with additional implications on the local and strategic highways network in relation to growth in Billericay and Wickford. The strategic approach to transport provision seeks to improve accessibility to jobs, services and facilities via an enhanced and better integrated transport network. To achieve this, BBC proposes to continue to liaise with its partners including ECC as the Local Highway Authority, public transport providers, Highways and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) to secure the necessary improvements to the transport networks in the Borough.

3.26 The Draft Plan seeks to secure improvements to transport networks on both the strategic and local highway network, with major upgrades and junction improvements. Mitigation modelling has been undertaken on behalf of BBC by ECC/Jacobs to identify a series of improvements that could be made to the transport network to support growth and to reduce the impact on the network, with high level costing appraisals. Having regard to these plans and assessments, the draft Plan seeks to deliver all or some of the following transport improvements (identified as necessary): a. A127 improvements to the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange; b. A127 corridor for widening (in line with the A127 Corridor for Growth Strategy); c. A127 junction improvement to the A132 Nevendon junction (and partial dualling of A132 Nevendon); d. A127 junction improvements to the A176 Upper Mayne junction; e. A127 removal/improvements to the Fortune of War junction; f. A127 new grade separated junction to Pound Lane/Cranfield Park Road, including a new link road to the A130 to serve Wickford and Pitsea; g. A new link road to the South and East of Wickford (from Pound Lane – A127 – to A130); h. A13 Improvements in line with the A13 Route Management Strategy; i. New south/ /south-west relief route for Billericay alongside new housing development; j. Changes to the highway network associated with regeneration Master plan k. New link road from West Mayne (land west of Steeple view, Laindon) for better multi-modal connections to Laindon Town Centre (and part of the Laindon Town Centre Regeneration); l. Localised enhancements around Billericay, Basildon and Wickford town centres; and m. Various individual junction improvements or traffic re-routing schemes:

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i. A127 Dunton Interchange, Basildon ii. A13 Haywain junction, Vange iii. A176 (Nethermayne) /Dry Street interchange, Basildon iv. Road/ Road junction, Billericay v. Sun Corner / London Road (A129) Roundabout, Billericay vi. Junction of the Runwell Road and the A132, Wickford.

3.27 These highway improvements have been identified in advance of any announcement on the Lower Thames Crossing and it is noted that these will need to be re-visited.

3.28 The Essex Local Transport Plan put in place proposals to deal with some of the existing highway network issues. This includes a route management strategy for the A127, as set out in the “A127 - A Corridor for Growth – an Economic Plan 2014” document which has already attracted funding from SELEP for infrastructure improvements.

3.29 In relation to sustainable modes of travel, policies set out requirements which relate to the Essex Cycle Strategy and proposals for public transport within the Essex Local Transport Plan. Land is safeguarded for those transport proposals.

3.30 BBC has produced a separate Highways Topic Paper with ECC, and it is an appropriate stage appraisal of the likely impact of growth associated with the Draft Local Plan on the highway network. BBC propose to continue to work with the Highway Authority to refine and determine the impact of development growth on the highway network as the scale and location of proposals within Local Plan are refined and developed through to adoption, including cross-referencing the results of the technical documents produced by ECC/Jacobs.

3.31 The mitigation and costings to date are for all possible schemes and multiple solutions. Further work is required to refine, model, mitigate, and cost the most appropriate range and/or combination of the packages, now that the scale and mix of all proposals has been identified in the Draft New Local Plan. As such the mitigation and costings are likely to be refined as a whole, for example it is highly unlikely that both the new A127-A130 link and the Morbec junction would be required. This may also be dependent on the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange scheme.

3.32 Significant further highways modelling work will be required before the end of November 2016 to inform the Pre-Submission draft with viable transport mitigation solutions.

3.33 BBC and ECC will need to undertake further cross boundary engagement with District Council in respect of the potential new Wickford link road between the A127/A130, which involves land within Rochford DC. BBC and ECC will also require further engagement with Rochford DC and Borough Council with regard to the potential highway improvements on the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange and the Lower Thames Crossing (LTX).

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3.34 A range of potential implications / opportunities also need to be assessed for the LTX, following the recent Highways England consultation containing three possible routes within “Option C” (consultation ends 24 March 2016).

G. Planning policies

3.35 Chapters 11 – 17, include a range of Policy Proposals and Development Management Policies, as well as a chapter dedicated to protecting the Green Belt. The emphasis is to promote sustainable development when determining planning applications in the future, whilst protecting the environment. Once adopted, the policies will replace any 'saved' policies of the Basildon District Local Plan (2008) and will sit alongside the NPPF and other planning documents that may be adopted by BBC in the future.

H. Locality specific proposals

3.36 As well as the strategic approach outlined above, the specific details for Basildon, Billericay and Wickford are outlined below.

Basildon 3.37 Basildon is home to 60% of the borough’s population and will be a focal location for growth. The proposals for Basildon (including Laindon, Pitsea, Dunton and ) are to extend Basildon to the east and west, to accommodate 8,835 new dwellings. Of this, 3,895 will be within the existing urban areas (unspecified land); and 4,940 located on seven specific housing allocations within the existing urban areas or as new urban extensions in the Green Belt. The regeneration of Basildon Town Centre will continue, with new homes, a new college, relocated market, cinema, restaurants, integrated bus and rail station, changes to traffic routing and enhanced public realm in line with the Basildon Town Centre Masterplan. The regeneration of Laindon Town Centre is also proposed to provide new homes, replacement shops, parking and community facilities.

3.38 The proposals include enlarged replacement open space alongside new housing development between Pitsea and Bowers Gifford for sports and recreation and wildlife (72 ha); three new strategic open spaces west of Nethermayne, at Dunton and east of Noak Bridge for outdoors sports, recreation and wildlife conservation; the provision of five new primary schools and one GP surgery, plus upgrades to other healthcare facilities, schools and community facilities; provision for at least two new care homes; and two new Gypsy and Traveller sites delivered as part of mixed-use developments at Gardiners Lane South and east of Pitsea.

3.39 Transport improvements focus on the A13 and the A127 and junction upgrades along its route.

Billericay 3.40 Billericay is currently home to around 20% of the borough’s population and the proposal to accommodate 20% of future development needs in Billericay has been challenging due to environmental and heritage designations and limited brownfield land. The proposals are to extend Billericay, primarily to the west / south, proposing 1,860 dwellings in total, of which, 120 are unspecified within the urban area; whilst there are 9 new housing allocations to supply 1,740 dwellings.

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3.41 The proposals include provision of two new strategic open spaces, west of Mountnessing Road and between Greens Farm Lane and Outwood Common Road; and developer contributions to achieve the necessary upgrades to existing schools and health and community facilities.

3.42 Transport improvements are proposed, including: a new southern relief route (B1009 – A129 link) to be delivered alongside new housing development; and local road enhancements in the town centre and approaches including Mountnessing Road/London Road, Billericay; and Sun corner – Sun Street, Laindon Road Billericay.

3.43 The distinct serviced villages of Ramsden Bellhouse and Crays Hill are proposed to contribute to meeting local housing needs, with 45 dwellings each through small scale expansion of the current villages.

Wickford 3.44 Wickford is currently home to around 17% of the borough’s population, however it is proposed to accommodate around 22% of future development on the baisis Wickford has fewer environmental constraints than Billericay (outside the floodplain) to restrict expansion. The proposals include potential redevelopment on brownfield land within the town centre and employment areas to contribute to the housing, employment and retail needs.

3.45 The overall proposals are to extend Wickford, primarily to the south and west, proposing 3,300 new dwellings in total, of which, 1,200 are unspecified dwellings within the existing urban area. There are five new housing allocations to supply 2,100 dwellings.

3.46 The greater than proportionate housing numbers are intended to secure the necessary transport improvements and junction upgrades including the A127/Pound Lane Junction; a new link between the A127/A130 to be delivered alongside the new housing development; and enhancements to the A132 including partial dualling. These are identified in combination with the proposed expansion of Basildon to the south.

3.47 The proposals include: provision of a new care home and a 10 pitch Gypsy and Traveller site; improvements to complement the new housing; with an emphasis on new open space to the north of the Town; and other new strategic open spaces for outdoor sport, recreation and wildlife; as well as and other developer contributions to achieve the necessary upgrades to existing schools, and health and community facilities. This includes one new primary school on the site of the larger housing development site to the south of Wickford.

Proposals within the Rural Areas 3.48 There are 13 Plotland settlements across the borough; all of which are in the Green Belt and these are identified to accommodate some small scale infill development, without altering their semi-rural character. It is proposed to define specific areas within the Plotlands where limited infilling of some plots could occur; contributing 218 new homes and new Gypsy and Traveller pitches.

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I Conclusion

3.49 BBC will review all consultation comments and the Draft Plan may change in response to any matters raised through this consultation, subject to the changes meeting the relevant tests and national policy. The next stage will be the publication of the Pre- Submission Local Plan scheduled for December 2016 with submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination scheduled for March 2017.

3.50 The proposed ECC response is summarised in Section 4 below, with the detailed response outlined in Annex 1 of this report (there are no defined consultation questions; as such ECC’s comments are set out against the relevant sections of the draft Plan).

4. Summary of proposed ECC response

4.1 The full response for the consultation is provided in Annex 1 to this report. A summary of key issues is outlined below.

4.1 Duty to co-operate. In accordance with provisions of the Localism Act 2011, it is recommended that ECC should continue to contribute cooperatively with BBC as it prepares its new Local Plan. ECC has assisted the preparation of the emerging Local Plan through regular officer and member dialogue, including highway liaison and wider South Essex duty to co-operate meetings, to inform and shape the Local Plan moving forward. ECC should continue to contribute through the respective South Essex Strategic Planning DTC groups (both the Members and Officer groups), which are key forums for the coordination of duty to co-operate activities. In meeting its requirements for duty to co-operate BBC is also considering the strategies contained in the Minerals and Waste Local Plans, and duty to co-operate meetings have been undertaken with regards the emerging Waste Local Plan. It is recommended that in moving forward, a focus should be on the further assessment of the transport and highway network, and the impact on early years and childcare, primary and secondary school provision.

4.2 Economic growth. It is recommended that ECC supports the proposed vision in that it seeks to provide housing and job opportunities for all sectors of the community by ensuring that sufficient land is available to promote a wide range of employment and business development. The BBC evidence base highlighted that Basildon has been a major driver of growth in the South Essex sub-region, and this is also reflected in the Economic Plan for Essex (2014).

The importance of telecommunications and broadband as an infrastructure requirement and its links to economic growth are welcomed. Consideration should be given to sustainable transport connections, namely bus based, strategic pedestrian and cycling links. The provision of industrial land in Essex plays an important role in providing appropriate locations for waste management facilities and aggregate recycling plants, a position that is encouraged in the emerging Waste Local Plan. It is recommended that ECC as Minerals and Waste Planning Authority should welcome the inclusion and reference to “associated employment generating sui generis uses” which is considered consistent with National Planning 10

Policy for Waste and Planning Policy Practice Guidance for the location of waste management facilities within Employment Areas (as reflected in the emerging Replacement Waste Local Plan). ECC should support BBC’s commitment to providing broadband provision for new homes and businesses.

4.3 Housing provision. It is recommended that ECC acknowledges BBC’s draft Plan that seeks to meet housing needs in full over the plan period and supports the 20 year plan period. It is considered that this would deliver the borough’s housing need in full, and support the projected number of jobs/workers forecast in the plan period.

The reference to the ECC Independent Living programme and its role in housing delivery is mentioned and promoted within Special Housing Accommodation should be welcomed. ECC has an excellent record of delivering new infrastructure, in partnership with BBC, to support the needs of a growing population. Such infrastructure has been secured through developer funding, ECC funding and other sources, including SELEP Local Growth Fund monies. ECC in its role as Highway Authority will provide the necessary assessments to determine impacts (including cross boundary impacts) and mitigation measures of the planned growth. Additional assessments will be undertaken, in relation to ECC functional areas, to identify additional infrastructure, facilities and mitigation required to support the preferred spatial strategy.

It is recommend that ECC welcomes the inclusion to work with ECC within the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation needs strategy, in respect of the large scale unauthorised former site at and the provision of transit sites. It is recommended that ECC includes reference to the current activities within ECC concerning the delivery of transit sites.

4.4 Highway modelling / Mitigation Measures. The level of development proposed and potential general growth in trips to 2034 will combine to generate significant demand on all transport modes and networks. ECC has undertaken modelling for Basildon, Billericay and Wickford based on Local Plan growth assumptions, looking at junction impacts and required mitigation measures. It is recommended that ECC acknowledges that significant further mitigation work will be required and shall work with BBC to determine mitigation costings, priorities and timescales for delivery, phased with development opportunities.

4.5 Transport and highways. ECC has established a South Essex Transport Board, which will be the mechanism for determining strategic infrastructure priorities, enabling partnership working on transport and growth issues, and to fulfil the duty to co-operate on transport planning and delivery in the context of local and national plans. The Draft Local Plan concentrates growth within and at locations adjoining the existing built up areas of Basildon, Billericay and Wickford, which ensures development is accessible, supports urban regeneration, and continues Basildon’s role as a major driver of economic growth. It is recommended that ECC should acknowledge that further cross boundary work will be required, to maintain the strategic transport network in Basildon, South Essex and Greater Essex. Further work will also be required following the Government’s announcement on the LTX due in late 2016, which is anticipated to have a

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significant impact on economic growth and the strategic road network in south Essex and beyond

4.6 Sustainable transport. It is recommended that ECC supports proposals promoting sustainable transport, and the identification of a range of measures and priorities including strategic pedestrian and cycle connectivity, public transport, bus based transit. Furthermore, ECC should support the consideration for passenger transport in large scale developments at the earliest opportunity, which is the responsibility of the developer.

4.7 School provision. It is recommended that ECC continues to work with BBC to ensure education needs are appropriate and adequately assessed as preparation of the new Local Plan continues. ECC should undertake a further assessment of the potential delivery and resource requirements for accommodating anticipated pupil growth within the BBC area. Sustainable school travel and the location of development sites to ensure viability to fund schools would need further consideration. ECC has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact on the provision of primary and secondary school places by location. It is recommended that ECC will need to consider the potential cross boundary matters between the West Basildon Urban Extension proposals and the provision of pupil places arising from the proposed “Dunton” development within the Brentwood Borough draft Local Plan (published 10 February 2016).

4.8 Infrastructure provision and funding. It is recommended that ECC welcome the reference to and use of the ECC Developers Guide to Infrastructure Contributions to identify appropriate contributions for the provision of ECC services, as well as the proposals for S106 contributions. ECC should provide further comments on the draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan, once BBC has revised it to clearly incorporate the policy requirements set out in the Draft Plan. ECC should note that BBC propose to prepare a draft Community Infrastructure Levy CIL Regulation123 Schedule for consultation and it is recommended that ECC should work with BBC to inform the development of this supporting document as a mechanism for obtaining planning obligations. This should ensure the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the NPPF.

4.9 Surface Water Management. It is recommended that ECC support the reference to flooding and surface water management issues, as well as the need for proposals to incorporate sustainable drainage systems. The approach and use of supporting evidence is considered to be consistent with ECCs requirements as the Lead Local Flood Authority.

4.10 Natural environment. It is recommended that the overall strategy is supported, however further suggested changes should be proposed on specific policies in respect of ecology and biodiversity issues, to improve consistency with national biodiversity conservation policy and best practice.

4.11 Country Parks: It is recommended that the overall strategy is supported, however further suggested changes should be proposed on specific policies in respect of the role of Country Parks, as community infrastructure providing managed informal recreational space, their contribution to health and wellbeing within the

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community and the natural environment. Furthermore, ECC consider that the mechanisms for infrastructure provision should apply to fund Country Parks.

4.12 Historic environment. It is recommended that reference to heritage assets and the supporting evidence base is supported for its’ consistency with the NPPF which clearly identifies issues specific to the Borough’s historic environment.

4.13 Minerals. It is recommended that ECC welcome the reference to ECC as the Minerals Planning Authority and to the Mineral Safeguarding Areas (MSAs) and Mineral Consultation Areas (MCAs) as identified in the Essex Minerals Local Plan on the Proposals Map. ECC should advise that only two site allocation proposals are within MSA’s for sand and gravel, however, due to their size, location and proximity to sensitive uses, it is not considered appropriate to request a Minerals Resource Assessment for prior extraction.

4.14 Waste. It is recommended that ECC support the reference to our role as the Waste Planning Authority and to the emerging Waste Local Plan. ECC should welcome the support for the provision of waste management facilities in general, and specifically within employment areas, through the reference to “sui generis uses” as well as the reference to renewable energy infrastructure, including Combined Heat and Power Plant. This is considered to be consistent with the promotion of the waste management hierarchy within sustainable development, in accordance with national policy and guidance. Furthermore, ECC as Waste Planning Authority should continue to work with BBC to ensure closer working between the two local planning authorities on waste issues.

4.15 Policies Map. It is recommended that ECC works with BBC to refine any proposed new road links in Billericay and Wickford. As shown, there is an unsubstantiated level of detail for what, at this stage, is only the indicative position, which will require a more detailed assessment.

5. Policy context and Outcomes Framework

5.1 ECC aims to ensure that local strategies and policies provide the greatest benefit to deliver a buoyant economy for the existing and future population that live, work, visit and invest in Essex. As a result ECC is keen to understand and support the formulation of the development strategy and policies delivered by Local Planning Authorities through Essex. Involvement is necessary because of the ECC role as:  a key partner within Essex promoting economic development, regeneration, infrastructure delivery and new development throughout the County; and  the strategic highway and transport authority, including responsibility for the delivery of the Essex Local Transport Plan and as the local highway authority; local education authority; Minerals and Waste Planning Authority; and major provider of a wide range of local government services throughout the county of Essex.

5.2 Vision for Essex 2013-2017 sets out the Cabinet’s vision and priorities for the next four years and this will inform the development of a revised corporate strategy designed to:  increase educational achievement and enhance skills

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 develop and maintain the infrastructure that enables our residents to travel and our businesses to grow  support employment and entrepreneurship across our economy  improve public health and wellbeing across Essex  safeguard vulnerable people of all ages  keep our communities safe and build community resilience and  respect Essex’s environment.

5.3 The proposed ECC response outlined in this report is consistent with the vision as it aims to facilitate working in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for service uses.

5.4 The Council’s Outcomes Framework for Essex was adopted in February 2014 - a statement of seven outcomes that set out its ambition based on its Vision for Essex 2013-17 (outlined above). The Commissioning Strategies provide a focus for the Council and partners in targeting resources and shaping service delivery.

5.5 The relevant outcome from the framework is, ‘ECC, working with partners, has a key role to play in delivering sustainable economic growth for Essex communities and businesses’.

5.6 To enable growth (those strategic elements that must be firmly in place to support employment and housing growth) ECC will focus on a number of strategic actions:  Generating a stronger skills base  Ensuring relevant physical infrastructure is in place and improving local, national and international connectivity  Delivering quality new homes to meet local need  Maintaining a relevant business support offer and structures  Raising aspirations for growth locally  Improving the inward investment offer and developing our global brand  Improving partnership working.

5.7 To embed growth (elements required to ensure that growth is sustainable and impacts directly on the communities of Essex) ECC will focus on the following strategic actions:  Ongoing improvement of business space  Improving international competitiveness and developing effective innovation capacity  Establish effective supply chain networks  Improving the quality of the environment  Increasing economic participation and reducing worklessness  Together these actions form the Commissioning Strategy framework.

5.8 The proposed ECC response outlined in this report supports both the enabling and embedding strategic actions.

5.9 The Economic Plan for Essex (2014) is based on the collective ambitions of all local authorities in Essex. It identifies the steps that local partners will take together, alongside the private sector and HM Government to accelerate local growth over a seven year period (2014-2021) and lays the foundation for long- 14

term sustainable growth in the years to follow. The plan states the capacity of key transport corridors within Essex is a key challenge to securing growth; a challenge that partners are working together to meet.

5.10 Basildon Borough is located in the ‘A13/A127 South Essex Growth Corridor’ and adjoins the A12 / Great Eastern mainline ‘Heart of Essex’ growth corridor. The plan acknowledges the significant growth initiatives and new business developments within the , supported by  the LTX;  a comprehensive solution to the lack of capacity at Junction 30/31 of the M25;  corridor improvements on the A12, A120 and M11 (including Junction 7a);  works at Brentwood and Stations to support Crossrail development;  capacity improvements and integrated transport initiatives on the Great Eastern Mainline (GEML);  Exploring a smart card travel system for rail and bus travel in Essex, Southend and ;  To upgrade and improve stretches of the A13 in neighbouring Thurrock and in Essex to serve new area and new development, such as the new deep sea container port at London Gateway.

5.11 In addition there are six issues from the plan that have relevance to this consultation and are reflected in the proposed ECC response outlined in this report.

 Issue 1: Enhancing the Essex workforce – ensuring there are the right skills to support existing and future employers as well as the needs of businesses in key growth sectors.  Issue 2: Unlocking growth in Essex’s strategic growth corridors. Investment to enable growth and development in established corridors offers the greater return on investment. Delivering and enabling significant infrastructure developments can help address capacity issues on Essex’s strategic road and rail links that place a limit on potential growth; unlock housing growth – increasing housing supply to help ensure that residents have access to affordable housing; unlock job growth – ensuring key growth sectors have access to the land and premises they need to expand and sustain employment; and make Essex more attractive to investors (at home and overseas), business and the people they employ.  Issue 3: Enhancing the productivity within the Essex economy - exploiting a competitive advantage in key sectors and to bring about a step change in local innovation and Research and Development investment.  Issue 4: The reputation of Essex. If Essex is to attract businesses into the county, and attract investment from the UK and overseas, it needs to develop and maintain the right reputation. Research from KPMG suggests that investors focus on a small number of basic criteria when selecting locations: political stability, economic growth, the accessibility of skilled human resources, the quality of education and the availability (and cost) of real estate.  Issue 5: Resistance to development. Delivering our ambitions will require local partners to achieve an unprecedented level of housing and physical development. While residents across Essex would recognise the general need for more homes and more local jobs, the specific design, location and phasing 15

of development can in some cases, present a challenge for communities. Partners will need to engage with communities and their representatives, demonstrating the powerful case for sustainable growth and the benefits this can bring to our neighbourhoods, villages, towns and cities.  Issue 6: Public sector partners’ capacity to support growth. If partners are to enable the ambition development programme outlined in this document, they will need to work together to consider new delivery mechanisms, new agreements and working practices that support delivery at pace.

5.12 The Essex Transport Strategy, the Local Transport Plan for Essex (June 2011) states that good transport is a vital factor in building strong and sustainable local communities and a successful economy. The strategy includes specific priorities for the South Essex sub-region, of which BBC is located, and the relevant priorities in relation to Basildon include:  Providing for and promoting access by sustainable modes of travel to new development areas;  Improving public transport links within and between the South Essex towns;  Improving the availability of sustainable travel choices and raising public awareness of these through travel planning;  Addressing maintenance, signing and broken links in the cycle network to improve conditions for cyclists and create a safer atmosphere for cycling;  Improving the attractiveness and ease of use of public spaces to support regeneration;  Improving journey time reliability on strategic inter-urban routes including the A127, A129, A130 and the A13;  Improving access to London Gateway port and London Southend Airport.

5.13 The A127 Corridor for Growth - An Economic Plan (March 2014) is a joint strategy between ECC and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and was adopted to provide greater journey time reliability along the length of the corridor to sustain the economic advantage of the A127, as well as to facilitate future growth and prosperity in the region. The document states that the A127 corridor is an absolutely vital artery to economic competitiveness of the South Essex sub-region and indeed to the economy of the County of Essex and beyond. The strategy makes a case for the corridor, demonstrating its essential economic importance and the measures which have to be implemented to ensure that South Essex remains a thriving economic engine of growth.

5.14 The ECC Independent Living Programme (May 2015) (previously known as Extra Care) seeks to provide housing for people over the age of 55 whose current home no longer meets their needs. It can work for people with a care and support need, including people with dementia. The housing should seek to maintain a balance of needs within a community, to achieve the best balance dependent upon the scale, location and stated purpose of discrete developments. The size and location of Independent Living communities will be determined by site availability and local demand. It is suggested that communities should be no smaller than 60 units for reasons of affordability and ability to create and support an active community.

5.15 The ECC Developers’ Guide to Infrastructure Contributions (Revised Edition 2015) details the scope and range of contributions towards infrastructure ECC may seek 16

from developers and land owners in order to make development acceptable in planning terms. This is a clear and transparent way for the development industry to understand ECC’s expectations and how to approach the provision of development should they wish to do business in Essex. In return ECC commit to engage with the planning process – advocating development that is compliant with emerging or adopted local plans and resisting speculative applications that have not demonstrated adequate assessment of their impact in the light of these Local Plans and provided appropriate mitigation to be delivered, by planning obligations (S106) alongside Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) as appropriate. Developers, both individually and where appropriate working together, are expected to design infrastructure to complement and sustain growth, to ensure the longer term impacts of the development on ECC infrastructure are comprehensively dealt with.

5.16 ECC acknowledge the need to work collaboratively with BBC and other relevant stakeholders to deliver these joint transport priorities, and we aim to ensure that emerging plans and strategies remain consistent.

6. Financial Implications

6.1. It is noted that BBC will use the ECC Developers Guide to Infrastructure Contributions to identify appropriate contributions for the provision of ECC services, as well as proposals for S106 contributions. BBC also proposes to work with ECC to develop a draft Community Infrastructure Levy CIL Regulation 123 Schedule for consultation.

6.2. There are no direct financial implications in respect of Essex County Council’s response to the consultation.

7. Legal Implications

7.1 The duty to co-operate is contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as amended by the Localism Act 2011. It requires Local Planning Authorities to ensure that local planning lead strategic planning effectively through their Local Plans addressing social, environmental and economic issues that can only be addressed by effectively working with other authorities beyond their own administrative boundaries.

7.2 Guidance issued on 6 March 2014 stresses that close cooperation between District Councils and County Councils in two tier areas will be critical to ensure that both tiers are effective when planning for strategic matters.

7.3 Although a Local Plan may be found unsound on Examination if the duty to co- operate has not been properly undertaken, the duty does not require us to reach agreement. The County Council is properly carrying out its functions in submitting comments on specific issues of concern or objection at this stage.

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8. Staffing and other resource implications

8.1. No additional staffing resources are required to make a decision on this proposed consultation response. The required decision complies with employment legislation and relevant Council policies.

9. Equality and Diversity implications

9.1 The Public Sector Equality Duty applies to the Council when it makes decisions. The duty requires us to have regard to the need to: a) Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other behaviour prohibited by the Act. In summary, the Act makes discrimination etc on the grounds of a protected characteristic unlawful b) Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. c) Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not including tackling prejudice and promoting understanding.

The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, gender, and sexual orientation. The Act states that ‘marriage and civil partnership’ is not a relevant protected characteristic for (b) or (c) although it is relevant for (a).

9.2 An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken by BBC called a “Service Impact Assessment” and can be viewed via the web link in Section 11 of this report. The Draft Local Plan is still in the consultation stage, as such it has not drawn any conclusions, however any potential impacts will continue to be monitored and if particular issues are identified, appropriate action will be taken. This could include changes to their consultation approach and activities as the plan progresses to the Pre-Submission stage. It is considered that all opportunities will be taken by BBC to advance equality through the Local Plan. No additional issues arise from ECC’s decision to make a response in consultation to secure its key services.

10. List of Appendices

10.1 Annex 1 provides the full ECC response to the consultation on the Basildon Draft New Local Plan.

11. List of Background Papers

(Any request for any background papers listed here should be made to the person named at the front of the report who will be able to help with any enquiries)

11.1 The following are key documents to this report (web links provided).  Basildon Draft Local Plan 2014-2034 Consultation  Basildon Draft Local Plan Consultation Summary  Basildon Draft Local Plan - Policies Map

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 Basildon Draft Local Plan - Sustainability Appraisal - Non-Technical Summary Jan 2016  Basildon Draft Local-Plan - Evidence-Base  Basildon BC Service Impact Assessment

11.2 The following documents have been used to inform ECC’s response.  Department for Communities and Local Government, National Planning Policy Framework (2012)  Department for Communities and Local Government, Planning Policy Guidance (2014)  Vision for Essex 2013-2017  ECC Outcomes Framework, Sustainable Economic Growth for Essex Communities and Businesses (Commissioning Strategy) (2014)  Economic Plan for Essex (2014)  A127 Corridor for Growth - An Economic Plan 2014  Essex Transport Strategy, the Local Transport Plan for Essex (June 2011)

Role Date Executive Director for Corporate and Customer Services (S151 Officer) No approval needed N/A Margaret Lee Director for Corporate Law and Assurance (Monitoring Officer)

Approved by Paul Turner (Deputy Monitoring Officer) 2 March 2016

Terry Osborne Director for Place Operations: Environment and Economy 15 March 2016

Andrew Cook I agree the recommendations in this report for the reasons set 17 March 2016 out in the report.

Cllr David Finch, Leader of the Council

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