DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE 9 JUNE 2016

AGENDA ITEM 10

Subject NEW LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION

Report by DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Enquiries contact: Laura Percy, laura.percy@.gov.uk , (01245) 606486

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to advise the Committee of the current consultation on the Castle Point Borough Council New Local Plan, published on 16 May 2016.

Recommendation(s)

1 That the Committee notes this report.

2 That the Director of Sustainable Communities in conjunction with Members to be appointed by the Committee be authorised to approve a consultation response to the Castle Point Borough Council New Local Plan.

Corporate Implications

Legal: Councils have a legal Duty to Co-operate in the plan preparation of other relevant local planning authorities. Financial: None. Personnel: None. Risk Management: It is important that the City Council respond to the consultation to ensure it can influence decisions taken by this nearby authority on sites for future development and growth. Equalities and It is expected that the plan will be subject to Equalities Diversity: Impact Assessment in accordance with Castle Point Borough Council’s normal practice. Health and Safety: None. IT: None.

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Other: None.

Consultees CCC – Sustainable Communities Directorate

Policies and Strategies

The report takes into account the following policies and strategies of the City Council: • Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan Document, February 2008 • Focused Review of Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan Document, December 2013 • Chelmsford Town Centre Area Action Plan, August 2008 • North Chelmsford Area Action Plan, July 2011 • Site Allocations Development Plan Document, February 2012 • Local Development Scheme, Third Review March 2013 • Supplementary Planning Documents • Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule, February 2014 The Chelmsford Local Development Framework takes into account relevant strategies of the City Council.

Corporate Plan Priorities

The report relates to the following priorities in the Corporate Plan.

Attracting investment and delivering infrastructure Facilitating suitable housing for local needs Providing high quality public spaces Promoting a more sustainable environment  Promoting healthier and more active lives Enhancing participation in cultural activities

1 Introduction

1.1 Castle Point Borough Council has published a New Local Plan for public consultation. This is a pre-submission Local Plan which Castle Point Borough Council intends to submit for Independent Examination following this consultation. The Plan sets out where development will be directed within Castle Point in the period to 2031.

1.2 The consultation periods runs from 16 May to 30 June 2016. At this stage responses are invited on the soundness of the Plan, and whether it complies with legal requirements and the Duty to Co-operate. Any comments received will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate alongside the submission of the Plan.

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1.3 The Pre-Submission Draft Plan is accompanied by an extensive evidence base and supporting information. Comments may also be made on the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment, and Equality Impact Assessment. Documents are available online at https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/new-local-plan

1.4 A Summary leaflet prepared by Castle Point Borough Council is attached at Appendix 1 .

2 Background

2.1 The consultation is seeking comments on the New Local Plan. This sets out how and where the development growth requirements of Castle Point will be met for the period 2014 to 2031. The New Local Plan has been informed by previous responses received to an ‘Issues’ consultation which was undertaken in 2012, and a Draft New Local Plan consultation undertaken in 2014.

2.2 The Draft New Local Plan will replace the current Local Plan which was adopted in November 1998 which had a Plan period that extended to 2001. Following the commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act in 2004, the majority of the planning policies of the adopted Local Plan were ‘saved’ for development control purposes to be eventually replaced by a new Local Development Framework or subsequently a new Local Plan.

3 Context

3.1 Castle Point is a relatively small local authority with a current population in the region of 88,000 people. The main built-up areas comprise of the towns of , Hadleigh, Thundersley and . The countryside and open land in between the built-up areas form part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. Chelmsford City Council does not share a common boundary with Castle Point Borough.

3.2 Castle Point is located within the Thames Gateway South Housing Market Area (HMA), which includes the authority areas of , Rochford, Southend on Sea, Thurrock and Castle Point.

4 History

4.1 The Draft New Local Plan, published in 2014, recognised that the Objectively Assessed Housing Need (OAHN) for Castle Point was in the region of 400 new homes per annum which equates to 8,000 new homes in the period 2011- 2031. However, due to the constraining effect of the Green Belt, a target of 200 new homes per year (4,000 new homes across the Plan period, which was then 2011-2031) was considered more realistic and put forward in the Draft Local Plan. The Draft Plan identified sites within the Green Belt where they were considered appropriate. It also identified an area of search for

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safeguarding land for housing development on land at North West Thundersley.

4.2 The general principles above remain much the same in this version of the Plan. However, the Plan now runs from 2014 to 2031 and only seeks to deliver 2,000 new homes up to 2031, having delivered very little in terms of new housing in the intervening period.

4.3 There appears to be little reference as to where the remaining unmet housing needs will be accommodated. Furthermore, it does not appear that there is any resolution within Thames Gateway South Essex Housing Market Area (HMA) as to the level of unmet housing need and the mechanism to consider any redistribution within the HMA.

4.4 Castle Point have suggested, in their response to Chelmsford’s Issues and Options consultation, that Chelmsford should be meeting some of Castle Point’s unmet housing need. Officers understand that the reasoning for this is that both Chelmsford and Castle Point have in-migration from and therefore that this commonality is sufficient for Chelmsford to take some of their housing numbers. Chelmsford strongly rejects this as a plausible justification to take further housing growth from Castle Point and consider that any unmet need should first be correctly addressed within Castle Points own HMA. As set out above there is no evidence to suggest that process has been agreed to meet the needs arising within their HMA.

4.5 Furthermore, although some efforts have been made it does not appear that a full and consistent Green Belt review has been carried out. In the absence of this it is not considered possible for Castle Point to establish that they cannot meet their own housing needs.

5 Representations on the Consultation Document

5.1 The consultation on the New Local Plan was launched close to the publication of Committee documents. Officers have therefore not yet had an opportunity to fully assess the documentation and its potential implications for Chelmsford. Initial consideration indicates that the main considerations include:

• How Castle Point Borough Council are seeking to deal with their unmet housing need. At present it would appear that the Plan does not identify how or where this need will be met. • That it would not be correct or appropriate for Chelmsford City Council to meet Castle Point Borough Council’s unmet housing need and if it can be demonstrated that Castle Point cannot meet these needs they should be met by their Housing Market Area (HMA). • Whether a suitable and full Green Belt review has been sufficiently carried out.

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6 Next Steps

6.1 Officers will fully examine the consultation documents and prepare a response before the consultation closes on 30 June 2016.

7 Conclusion

7.1 Based on the representations made by Castle Point Borough Council to Chelmsford City Council’s Issues and Options Consultation, suggesting Chelmsford City Council should meet some of their unmet housing need, this consultation has potential implications for Chelmsford. It is imperative that the authority responds to the consultation with its comments once it has had an opportunity to fully evaluate the documentation. As part of the Duty to Co- operate, it is also important for Chelmsford City Council to demonstrate that it has engaged effectively with Castle Point Borough Council.

List of Appendices

Appendix 1 – Castle Point New Local Plan Leaflet 2016

Background Papers

• Minutes of and Agenda Item 8 of the Development Policy Committee held on 6 March 2014 • Castle Point New Local Plan 2016 • Castle Point New Local Plan 2016 Proposals Map • Castle Point New Local Plan 2016 Sustainability Assessment & Strategic Environmental Assessment • Castle Point Habitat Regulation Assessment of the New Local Plan 2016 • Castle Point Equality Impact Assessment of New Local Plan 2016 • National Planning Policy Framework, March 2012 • National Planning Practice Guidance

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Consultation on the New Local Plan 2016 Participate until 30 June 2016 Castle Point’s New Local Plan 2016 Consultation Process for the New Local Plan 2016

Its Role: • The New Local Plan 2016 has been prepared to take account of the responses • To set out how the Council will protect important features in the natural and received to the Issues Consultation and the Draft Local Plan Consultation. built environment in Castle Point in the future. • This leaflet and representation form have been sent to all residents and • To identify where and how new development will take place to meet local needs, businesses within the borough to ask for any representations. whilst avoiding harm to those parts of the environment that local people value. • The consultation period starts on 16 May 2016 and closes on 30 June 2016. • To identify how new homes and jobs will be supported by roads, utilities, services and shops in order to ensure that Castle Point remains a great place Purpose of Consultation to live, work, and do business. • This consultation asks whether or not the plan complies with the legal requirements, the duty to co-operate and is sound. Progress to date: • Following consultation, the plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. • In 2014 the Council produced a plan for consultation. • Representations will be considered by a Planning Inspector alongside the • Nearly 5,000 comments were received. published plan. • The Council has taken these into account, and has now prepared this plan accordingly. Legal Requirements and Duty to Co-operate

Main Proposals in the New Local Plan 2016 • The plan should be included in the current Local Development Scheme. • The plan should be in general accordance with the Council’s Statement The Environment of Community Involvement, which sets out the strategy for involving the • Retention and protection of 2,734ha (or 99%) of the current Green Belt. community in the preparation and revision of Local Development Documents. • Protection of a 19m wide buffer of land around Canvey Island in order to enable • The plan should comply with the relevant regulations. future flood defence works to occur unhindered. • A Sustainability Appraisal should have been completed and regard given to any • Designation of three Historic Natural Landscapes - Historic Sustainable Community Strategy. Natural Landscape, the Hadleigh Castle and Marshes Historic Natural • The Council must show how it has complied with any requirements arising from Landscape, and the Canvey Marshes Historic Natural Landscape. the Duty to Co-operate with other organisations. • Identification of over 30 local wildlife sites for nature conservation. • Identification of locally important historic assets for protection and Soundness enhancement. • The plan has to satisfy the National Planning Policy Framework’s definition of soundness by being positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent. Housing • 2,000 new homes in the period to 2031 - 20% to be affordable. • Additional residential care provision to meet the needs of a growing elderly population.

Employment • At least 2,100 new jobs in Castle Point in the period to 2031. • Regeneration of Canvey and Hadleigh Town Centres to provide around 11,000m2 of new retail floorspace.

Transport • Proposals to relieve pressure at busy junctions. • Proposals that improve east-west connections on Canvey Island. • A new road between Northwick Road, Canvey Island and Manor Way, Corringham. PROPOSALS FOR BENFLEET, HADLEIGH AND THUNDERSLEY

Summary: H11 (1 & 2): North West E3: Adjacent to Manor Thundersley- 400 homes Trading Estate- 4ha for • Retention of 1,654ha of by 2031. employment growth Green Belt H4: Land off Kiln Road- • 960 new homes in the H11 (3 & 4): North West 235 homes, open space period to 2031 Thundersley -800 homes and wildlife management safeguarded to meet areas at Land off Kiln Road • 4ha of new employment land housing needs after 2031. (currently under construction) • Regeneration of Hadleigh H9: Land South of Daws Town Centre Heath- 180 Homes with landscaping and access • Route improvements on the to open space A129 Rayleigh Road • Dualling of northern section of A130 Canvey Way to and from Sadlers Farm junction • Junction improvements on Kenneth Road • A replacement school building for Hadleigh Junior School • Around 8ha of open space made publicly accessible • Ancient woodlands around Hadleigh and Daws Heath retained and protected from development H8: Land between 396-408 London Road- 81 homes • Hadleigh Castle and (currently under construction) Marshes retained as an important landscape area with enhanced public H7: Land off Scrub Lane- accessibility 64 homes and a replacement school Summary: PROPOSALS • Retention of 1,034ha of Green Belt • Around 6ha of open land made publicly accessible FOR CANVEY • 760 new homes • Extension of Roscommon Way from Haven Road to Western Esplanade • 15ha of new employment land ISLAND • New road linking Northwick Road, Canvey Island to Manor • Regeneration of Canvey Town Centre Way, Corringham • Highway capacity improvements along Somnes Avenue • West Canvey Marshes retained as an important landscape area with enhanced public accessibility

H10: Land fronting Canvey Road- 50 bed H6: Land off Point nursing home Road- 160 homes

10ha of land newly designated as Green Belt

West Canvey- 15ha of land for employment H5: Thorney Bay Caravan growth Park- 600 homes open space and flood defence works. Land left for the extension of Roscommon Way to Western Esplanade. NEXT STEPS

The New Local Plan 2016 will now be submitted to a Planning Inspector. If you wish to comment on the soundness of any part of the Plan:

Fill in the online representation form on the following website: www.castlepoint.gov.uk/new-local-plan

Fill in a representation form and return to the Council in the enclosed prepaid envelope, or email the representation form to: [email protected]

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

The New Local Plan 2016 and all associated evidence documents can be viewed online at:

www.castlepoint.gov.uk/new-local-plan

Alternatively, hard copies of these documents may be viewed during normal opening hours at:

• Council Offices, Kiln Road, Thundersley, Benfleet

Hard copies of the New Local Plan 2016 may be viewed at public libraries within Castle Point during normal opening hours.

Contact Details: [email protected] www.castlepoint.gov.uk/new-local-plan

Planning Policy, Castle Point Borough Council, Council Offices, Kiln Road, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1TF @CastlePointBC