Rochford's battle to get its core strategy approved

Our Council's efforts to get their core strategy finalised and signed off by the Government continue this week. The core strategy, which is essentially a local development framework for the next 15 years, has faced stiff opposition in previous hearings and it's almost become something of a David and Goliath battle, with Rochford taking the role of the little man. Whilst the Council's plans are wide ranging, the issue which is causing the greatest controversy is housing, and accompanying this, the need to give up green belt as there are insufficient brownfield sites in the area. Some of the loudest noises in opposition are land owners who would lose out if the Council succeeds, but also residents groups who would be affected by new development on previously farmed land. Most affected would be those living along Hall Rd (as some development to the West of the town centre is supported). Bellway Homes has plans for 600 homes on currently farmed land between Hall Road and Ironwell Lane. Yet, whilst the core strategy rules out significant development to the East (with the notable exception of Stambridge Mill, where redevelopment is being delayed apparently due to issues relating to flood prevention) Colonnade have been a strong presence at the core strategy hearings in relation to the Coombes Farm development. They naturally want to see the Council fail as it will reopen their chances of securing planning consent, when the planning application is finally redetermined.

To add to the mix, Basildon District Council also opposes Rochford's plans. That's because Basildon believes the onus has been placed on them to take a major share of the new housing requirement in the East of England area plans.

Winers and losers...

I believe the single factor which will determine whether or not the Council succeeds will be whether the Government Inspector agrees that their evidence base, to support their conclusions on housing numbers, stands up under scutiny.

When the new Government took office and announced that they intended to abolish Labour's Regional Strategies legislation, which included building a certain number of new homes within a certain period of time, Rochford took the opportunity to revise downwards the number of new homes they proposed to build annually, although the actual total would be unchanged. (They just would take a few more years to get there).

Because the new Government has been taken to the High Court (by Cala Homes) and been found to be acting illegally in abolish Regional Strategies without an Act of Parliament, the current status is that the previous Governments legislation remains in place. The Coalition's Localism Bill will eventually revoke existing legislation, and recently received its second reading. However, Rochford will have to show its new housing numbers remain compliant with the existing East of England plan (the Regional Strategy for our area) but it gets more complicated yet...

The High Court heard yet further hearings regarding the Coalition's proposed abolishment of Regional Strategies on the 17th January, and a Judgment is expected imminently on whether Councils can legally take into account that proposed legislation, currently passing through the House of Commons, will annnul the existing housing numbers regime.

Accordingly, the Planning Inspector at the core strategy hearings will also have an eye to the High Court when considering her conclusions.

Most expect this all to drag on for several more months.