REPORT of DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND REGULATORY SERVICES to PLANNING AND LICENSING COMMITTEE 1 MARCH 2018

ROCHFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEW LOCAL PLAN: ISSUES AND OPTIONS DOCUMENT CONSULTATION

1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

1.1 Rochford District Council has published its New Local Plan: Issues and Options Document 2017 for consultation. The Issues and Options Document is the first stage in preparing Rochford’s new Local Plan and aims to shape the vision for the future development of Rochford District at an early stage, with the aid of community and stakeholder engagement. The purpose of this report is to consider the Council’s draft response to this Issues and Options Document (see APPENDIX 1 of this report).

2. RECOMMENDATION

That Members’ views are sought on the draft response to the Issues and Options for the Rochford Local Plan and if required the draft response is revised to take into account views of the Committee and approved by Officers in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning and Licensing Committee and submitted as the Council’s formal response to the Consultations...

3. SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES

3.1 The Issues and Options Document sets out a range of key issues that have been identified on a number of themes from housing and infrastructure to healthcare and community facilities. Specifically, the document includes discussion on:

 A Vision and Strategic Objectives  Delivering Homes and Jobs  Supporting Commercial Development  Delivering Infrastructure  Supporting Health, Community and Culture  Protecting and Enhancing our Environment  Detailed Policy Considerations

3.2 As part of an Essex sub-region, Maldon District has a relationship with Rochford District via a marine boundary, which means there are a number of strategic and cross-boundary topics and issues by nature. The cross-boundary themes that would concern Maldon District and the policies within Maldon District’s Local Development

Agenda Item no. 13 Our Vision: To make Maldon District a better place to live, work and enjoy Plan centre on infrastructure delivery and safeguarding of existing services and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment and green infrastructure.

3.3 The consultation for the Issues and Options Document, and its accompanying Sustainability Appraisal, closes on 7 March 2018.

4. ANALYSIS OF ISSUES AND OPTIONS DOCUMENT 2017

4.1 A Vision and Strategic Objective

4.1.1 Three key overarching themes emerged from the Issues and Options Document draft vision, which highlight a specific focus on the economy, the environment and the community. These themes created a baseline setting for a further 5 Strategic Priorities that focused on housing, business prosperity, infrastructure provision and its delivery, the provision of community amenities and climate change mitigation and adaption within the built and natural environment.

4.2 Delivering Homes and Jobs

4.2.1 Rochford District sits within the South Essex Housing Market Area alongside Basildon, Castle Point, Southend and Thurrock Borough Councils. The five Councils have worked jointly to prepare an up-to-date Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) (Addendum 2017) to meet the requirements of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). The revised Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) now projects that the need for homes up to 2037 in Rochford District is expressed as a range between 331 and 336 homes per annum , 6,620-7,220 new homes overall. It is expressed within the document that the OAN is not the housing target for the District, however, and that is a starting point. Constraints such as environmental capacity, land availability, development viability, infrastructure capacity and other considerations, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), will be taken in account before Rochford sets out how it will meet its OAN.

4.2.2 A key identified issue within the document concerns land availability constraints and the relative challenges that exist, as the majority of the District is allocated as Green Belt. Rochford District Council acknowledges that the Green Belt boundaries may need to be reviewed if other options for meeting their housing need have been exhausted. This requirement is set out in the South Essex SHMA Addendum 2017.

4.2.3 Reference to Houseboats (paragraph 6.79) and associated Houseboat policy (policy DM24) are outlined within Rochford’s Development Management Plan. Policy DM24 defines a houseboat as a boat which is not primarily used for navigation, and is kept on a river or its estuaries, creeks and tributaries. For planning purposes, the definition for a houseboat does not include the navigation clause and therefore includes those that are permanently or temporarily moored for any period of time, and would require planning permission.

4.2.4 Highly sensitive environments such as the River Crouch hold significant ecological value and are important habitats for wildlife. Protected by national and international nature conservation designations, the River Crouch is an important asset of both Maldon and Rochford District Councils. There is an aligned commitment to protect

Agenda Item no. 13 these habitats from any unnecessary disturbance or pollution, as set out in policy H8 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and the referenced policy DM24.

4.2.5 With regard to the Houseboat policy (DM24), Rochford District Council proposes five options; (a) retain the existing policy; (b) amend the existing policy to strengthen criteria; (c) allocate specific areas of coastline where such uses may be acceptable; (d) amend the definition in the Development Management Plan; or (e) do not have a policy on houseboats. Maldon District Council identifies houseboats as being an issue for Rochford District and that the Council is seeking to address and mitigate the impacts through local planning policy. The preference of Maldon District Council is to support the identification of suitable locations for houseboats within Rochford District, rather than imposing restrictions outright.

4.2.6 Rochford’s current Core Strategy supports the development of economic growth in the district with a target to deliver 3,000 jobs over the current Plan period to 2025 (policy ED1). To deliver these jobs, an economic growth strategy has key focuses on realising the potential of London Southend Airport, and enhancing the skills of the district’s population. The emerging evidence for the South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment 2017 (EDNA) has not provided a new jobs target for Rochford District, however does indicate that there is a need for up to 16 hectares of ‘new’ employment land between 2016 and 2036.

4.3 Supporting Commercial Development

4.3.1 The Town Centres of Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley are identified as the primary location for main town centre uses, containing sufficient retail space, services and facilities to meet the needs of the local communities. Rayleigh is identified as the district’s principle town centre. Identified issues going forth concern transport infrastructure capacity limitations and alternative retail/leisure experiences offered in neighbouring town centres outside of the district.

4.4 Delivering Infrastructure

4.4.1 There are four train stations serving Rochford District that link Southend to London Liverpool Street. The Southminster branch line, which adjoins the Southend service to London, provides significant mobility for residents of Maldon District who commute to and work in London. The Council should support on proposals by Rochford District Council which seek to enhance important physical infrastructure assets, such as the railway network, which provide benefit for Maldon’s residents and businesses.

4.4.2 London Southend Airport is referenced within the Plan as being a regionally important and expanding airport, and together, both Rochford District and Southend have supported the growth of London Southend Airport as an important, thriving regional facility. The London Southend Airport & Environs Joint Area Action Plan outlines the future development and role of London Southend Airport, including the management of operations and strict noise control procedures. There are currently no proposals for additional expansion of the airport beyond what has already been outlined within the current Plan. Maldon District Council would object to any plans that propose the expansion of the airport beyond its current limits of capacity.

Agenda Item no. 13 4.5 Supporting Health, Community and Culture

4.5.1 There is an identified need for healthcare provision in Rochford District, and more widely throughout Essex. Future healthcare provision needs to take into account the needs for all communities, including the variance in demographic composition as the older population increases. This is a nation-wide shift that must be addressed via a comprehensive and co-ordinated strategic approach to healthcare provisions.

4.5.2 With regard to education, the Core Strategy (policy CLT2 and CLT3) currently supports an approach that seeks improvements to school place provision, either through the expansion of existing schools or through the provision of new schools that requires land to be set aside for new schools. Issues concerning education provision within Rochford District identified the need for schools to work closely with Essex County Council to ensure adequate provision meets the needs of local communities, as now all four secondary schools hold academy status and are self-governing.

4.6 Protecting and Enhancing our Environment

4.6.1 Aforementioned (Paragraph 4.2.4), the River Crouch forms the marine border between Maldon and Rochford Districts and holds significant value in terms of its ecology and biodiversity. The Council will only support options proposed that will protect and conserve the River Crouch and its unique assets.

4.6.2 Identified as part of the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA), there is appropriate reference to the preparation of an Essex Coastal Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) to ensure compliance with HRA Regulations. The Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy must contain coverage of all relevant designated sites in adjoining districts, whilst taking into consideration the future strategic housing need of 6,620-7,220 units outlined in the South Essex SHMA Addendum 2017. Recreational and leisure impacts will be cross-boundary and therefore RAMS will need to consider this.

4.7 Detailed Policy Considerations

4.7.1 No comments.

5. CONCLUSIONS

5.1 The Rochford District Council New Local Plan: Issues and Options Document 2017 identifies a new OAN of between 6620-7220 homes and 16 hectares of new employment land over the next 20 years. The Council acknowledges that cross- boundary issues predominantly concern the River Couch, and therefore the Council will maintain a close relationship with Rochford District Council with this regard.

5.2 The Council’s draft comments are located in APPENDIX 1 to this report.

6. IMPACT ON CORPORATE GOALS

6.1 At this stage there is a limited impact on the corporate goals of the Council. The Council will maintain a position which seeks conformity with its Duty-to-Cooperate

Agenda Item no. 13 with Rochford District Council however, to ensure continued awareness of the progression of the Rochford District New Local Plan.

7. IMPLICATIONS

(i) Impact on Customers – The proposals would not have a direct impact on customers.

(ii) Impact on Equalities – The proposals would not have a direct impact on equalities.

(iii) Impact on Risk – The proposals would not have a direct impact on risk.

(iv) Impact on Resources (human) – The proposals would not have a direct impact on resources.

(v) Impact on the Environment – The proposals would not have a direct impact on the environment.

Background Papers: The Rochford District Council New Local Plan: Issues and Options Document 2017, available at: https://www.rochford.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning- policy/new-local-plan

Enquiries to: Sam Connolley, Planning Policy Officer, telephone: 01621 876226, email: [email protected]

Agenda Item no. 13 APPENDIX 1

Maldon District Council Comments on the Rochford District Council New Local Plan: Issues and Options Document 2017

Forming the first stage of the Local Plan review, the Issues and Options Document identifies a series of strategic priorities and objectives to support the draft vision for the future of Rochford District. These are supported by key planning issues that have been identified for a number of themes, and potential options to deal with these issues.

Document Page, Policy and/or Comments Paragraph Number Our Vision and Strategic Objectives 5. Our Vision and Strategic Maldon Council supports a number of key ideas and themes Objectives 5.8 that have come from paragraph 5.8. Improving the strategic infrastructure network is a shared objective for both authorities; the Southminster branch line holds a significant relationship with the Southend train line, which must be safeguarded and enhanced. Delivering Homes and Jobs Pg. 32. Para. 6.9 The revised OAN now expresses a range of between 331 and 361 homes per year. To effectively meet the revised OAN, all possible options must be considered including a review of Green Belt land. With the current pressures on housing need as a national issue, there needs a balance between serving strategic housing allocations and mitigating the consequences, such as loss of greenfield land. Pg. 39. Para. 6.31 Provided the national threshold for affordable housing is 10 units or 1000sqm, which has been widely adopted by most local authorities, it would seem appropriate to use this threshold as local policy given the pressures on affordable housing as a national issue. Pg. 56. Para. 6.86 Retention of or amendments to strengthen the existing policy would be supported by the Council. Any amendments which would be detrimental to the landscape, ecology and/or biodiversity of the River Crouch would be objected to. Pg. 58. Para. 6.91 With a revised OAN of 6620-7220 homes from 2017-2037, the assessed need of up to 16 hectares of ‘new’ employment land between 2016-2036 would need to be appropriately situated to align with a vision that seeks increased provisions for sustainable transport and sustainable communities. Delivering Infrastructure Pg. 85. Para. 8.26 Although there are limitations on the level of influence local planning authorities have on the level of provision with regard to public transport, the level of provision is based on the use of services. When identifying strategic housing allocations within the district, this must be taken into consideration. Protecting and Enhancing our Environment Pg. 127. Para. 10.26 It should be emphasised that there will be a close working relationship between all contributing authorities in the preparation and production of the Essex Coastal Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy and that there must be a Duty to Cooperate. Pg. 127. Para. 10.27 Retaining or amending policy ENV1 to strengthen the current policy is supported.

Agenda Item no. 13