Core Strategy Adopted Version
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Rochford District Council December 2011 Local Development Framework Core Strategy Adopted Version LDF www.rochford.gov.uk If you would like this information in large print, Braille or another language, please contact 01702 318111. Rochford District Council – Local Development Framework Core Strategy Foreword The Core Strategy Submission Document, with a potential adoption date of 2012, will not cover a 15 year plan period. As such, the Council is committed to undertaking an early review of the Core Strategy to put in place a plan that covers at least 15 years, and complies with emerging national policy. The reasons for this situation are set out below. The Council submitted the Core Strategy Submission Document to the Secretary of State for independent examination on 14 January 2010. Hearing sessions took place between 11 and 21 May 2010 to discuss the key matters and issues determined by the Inspector, and an additional hearing session on affordable housing took place on 7 September 2010. However, changes at the regional and national level, as well as developments in case law led to a delay in the examination process. Following the Secretary of State’s announcement to withdraw Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) on 6 July 2010, the Council proposed amendments to the Core Strategy Submission Document (called the Schedule of Changes). These amendments were based on the housing figures proposed for the District up to 2031 in the revised East of England Plan, which was submitted to the Government in March 2010. These revised figures were agreed at the regional level and supported by Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment. The Schedule of Changes to the Core Strategy Submission Document was consulted on between 18 October and 30 November 2010 and the hearing sessions for the Schedule of Changes took place on 1 and 2 February 2011. However, after several rulings, the Court of Appeal has now concluded that the Secretary of State’s intention to revoke RSS cannot be a material consideration, as held in Cala Homes (South) Ltd) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 27 May 2011. As the amendments to the Councils’ Core Strategy had been taken in light of the Government’s pronouncements, the above ruling rendered the Core Strategy out of sync with the legal position in relation to the status of the East of England Plan. The decision was then taken, following advice from the examination Inspector, to revert back to the Core Strategy as originally submitted, albeit with minor amendments as requested by the Inspector following the original hearing sessions in May 2010. Such minor changes included alterations to correct anachronisms in the document resulting from the time lapse. Making a difference Rochford District Council – Local Development Framework Core Strategy Contents Page 1 Introduction ............................................................................................7 The Role of the Core Strategy................................................................7 Developing the Core Strategy ................................................................8 Sustainable Community Strategy and other key documents ..................9 2 Spatial Characteristics, Issues and Opportunities ................................26 Introduction ..........................................................................................26 Environment .........................................................................................26 Population and society .........................................................................28 Housing ................................................................................................29 Economy ..............................................................................................31 Transport..............................................................................................32 Settlements ..........................................................................................33 3 Vision ...................................................................................................36 The Vision for Rochford District............................................................36 4 Housing ................................................................................................41 Vision ...................................................................................................41 Objectives ............................................................................................41 Introduction ..........................................................................................42 The efficient use of land for housing ....................................................44 Extensions to residential envelopes and phasing.................................45 Extension to residential envelopes post-2021 ......................................47 Affordable Housing...............................................................................49 Dwelling Types.....................................................................................50 Lifetime Homes ....................................................................................51 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation...................................................52 Appendix H1.........................................................................................54 Appendix H2.........................................................................................58 5 Character of Place ...............................................................................61 Vision ...................................................................................................61 Objectives ............................................................................................61 Introduction ..........................................................................................62 Design ..................................................................................................62 Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and Conservation Areas ......63 Listed Buildings .........................................................................63 Scheduled Monuments..............................................................63 Conservation Areas ...................................................................64 Local Lists ............................................................................................65 Making a difference Rochford District Council – Local Development Framework Core Strategy 6 The Green Belt.....................................................................................66 Vision ...................................................................................................66 Objectives ............................................................................................67 Introduction ..........................................................................................68 Protection of the Green Belt .................................................................68 Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses ........................................70 7 Upper Roach Valley and Wallasea Island ............................................72 Vision ...................................................................................................72 Objectives ............................................................................................72 Upper Roach Valley .............................................................................73 Wallasea Island....................................................................................74 8 Environmental Issues...........................................................................75 Vision ...................................................................................................75 Objectives ............................................................................................76 Introduction ..........................................................................................77 Protection and enhancement of the natural landscape and habitats.................................................................................................77 Local Wildlife Sites (LoWSs)......................................................77 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) ................................77 Crouch and Roach.....................................................................78 Special Protection Areas (SPAs)...............................................79 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)........................................79 Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance) ...............79 Historical and Archaeological Sites ...........................................79 Coastal Protection Belt.........................................................................80 Flood Risk ............................................................................................81 Air Quality Management Areas ............................................................83 Renewable Energy...............................................................................84 Code for Sustainable Homes/BREEAM ...............................................86 Contaminated Land..............................................................................87 9 Community Infrastructure, Leisure and Tourism ..................................89 Vision 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