New Local Plan

1. Thank you for inviting Brentwood Borough Council to provide comments as part of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s consultation on its New Local Plan Issues & Options document. Brentwood Borough Council forms part of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) along with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. South Essex shares several strategic issues, such as housing growth and infrastructure. It is important that such issues are addressed through collaborative working and meaningful discussions in accordance with legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance.
2. Please note that we have limited comments to high level strategic issues. Comments on the Southend Issues & Options are limited given the early stage of the plan-making process and regular engagement through the duty to cooperate and joint working of ASELA.
Regional Context: South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area
3. The Council notes the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area, comprising the local authorities of Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Southend-on-Sea, and Rochford. Brentwood Borough Council is in general support of this approach. It is acknowledged that Brentwood is a signatory to the ASELA memorandum of understanding but does not form part of the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area.
Development Requirements: Meeting Housing Needs
4. The Southend-on-Sea New Local Plan Issues & Options consultation document identifies a housing need of 18,000-24,000 (2018-2038). Two of the three development options focus development within the Southend Borough boundary. However, it is recognised that Southend would not be able to meet its full objectively assessed housing need within its own boundary by approximately 10,200 dwellings due to a physical shortfall of land. Brentwood Borough Council encourages Southend Borough Council to make every reasonable effort to meet as much of the borough’s own housing need before relying on duty to cooperate and the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to meet unmet need.
5. Joint working within ASELA has been set-up to discuss cross-boundary issues such as unmet housing needs. Further joint working is required through the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to identify the feasibility of meeting unmet needs in the wider sub-region from several plans that are not fully meeting local needs (to date, Basildon, Castle Point, and Southend).
Duty to Cooperate
6. The Council acknowledges receipt of a letter from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council (4 March 2019) regarding duty to cooperate unmet housing need and will be replying in due course.
7. Brentwood Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in progressing the plan-making process of both local areas on an ongoing basis, specifically as part of joint work on strategic planning in South Essex, and in line with the requirements of the duty to cooperate.

1. Thank you for inviting Brentwood Borough Council to provide comments as part of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s consultation on its New Local Plan Issues & Options document. Brentwood Borough Council forms part of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) along with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. South Essex shares several strategic issues, such as housing growth and infrastructure. It is important that such issues are addressed through collaborative working and meaningful discussions in accordance with legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance.
2. Please note that we have limited comments to high level strategic issues. Comments on the Southend Issues & Options are limited given the early stage of the plan-making process and regular engagement through the duty to cooperate and joint working of ASELA.
Regional Context: South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area
3. The Council notes the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area, comprising the local authorities of Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Southend-on-Sea, and Rochford. Brentwood Borough Council is in general support of this approach. It is acknowledged that Brentwood is a signatory to the ASELA memorandum of understanding but does not form part of the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area.
Development Requirements: Meeting Housing Needs
4. The Southend-on-Sea New Local Plan Issues & Options consultation document identifies a housing need of 18,000-24,000 (2018-2038). Two of the three development options focus development within the Southend Borough boundary. However, it is recognised that Southend would not be able to meet its full objectively assessed housing need within its own boundary by approximately 10,200 dwellings due to a physical shortfall of land. Brentwood Borough Council encourages Southend Borough Council to make every reasonable effort to meet as much of the borough’s own housing need before relying on duty to cooperate and the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to meet unmet need.
5. Joint working within ASELA has been set-up to discuss cross-boundary issues such as unmet housing needs. Further joint working is required through the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to identify the feasibility of meeting unmet needs in the wider sub-region from several plans that are not fully meeting local needs (to date, Basildon, Castle Point, and Southend).
Duty to Cooperate
6. The Council acknowledges receipt of a letter from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council (4 March 2019) regarding duty to cooperate unmet housing need and will be replying in due course.
7. Brentwood Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in progressing the plan-making process of both local areas on an ongoing basis, specifically as part of joint work on strategic planning in South Essex, and in line with the requirements of the duty to cooperate.

1. Thank you for inviting Brentwood Borough Council to provide comments as part of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s consultation on its New Local Plan Issues & Options document. Brentwood Borough Council forms part of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) along with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. South Essex shares several strategic issues, such as housing growth and infrastructure. It is important that such issues are addressed through collaborative working and meaningful discussions in accordance with legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance.
2. Please note that we have limited comments to high level strategic issues. Comments on the Southend Issues & Options are limited given the early stage of the plan-making process and regular engagement through the duty to cooperate and joint working of ASELA.
Regional Context: South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area
3. The Council notes the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area, comprising the local authorities of Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Southend-on-Sea, and Rochford. Brentwood Borough Council is in general support of this approach. It is acknowledged that Brentwood is a signatory to the ASELA memorandum of understanding but does not form part of the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area.
Development Requirements: Meeting Housing Needs
4. The Southend-on-Sea New Local Plan Issues & Options consultation document identifies a housing need of 18,000-24,000 (2018-2038). Two of the three development options focus development within the Southend Borough boundary. However, it is recognised that Southend would not be able to meet its full objectively assessed housing need within its own boundary by approximately 10,200 dwellings due to a physical shortfall of land. Brentwood Borough Council encourages Southend Borough Council to make every reasonable effort to meet as much of the borough’s own housing need before relying on duty to cooperate and the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to meet unmet need.
5. Joint working within ASELA has been set-up to discuss cross-boundary issues such as unmet housing needs. Further joint working is required through the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan to identify the feasibility of meeting unmet needs in the wider sub-region from several plans that are not fully meeting local needs (to date, Basildon, Castle Point, and Southend).
Duty to Cooperate
6. The Council acknowledges receipt of a letter from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council (4 March 2019) regarding duty to cooperate unmet housing need and will be replying in due course.
7. Brentwood Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in progressing the plan-making process of both local areas on an ongoing basis, specifically as part of joint work on strategic planning in South Essex, and in line with the requirements of the duty to cooperate.