We are almost certainly going to get about 550 new homes “North of London Road” and about 220 on the Rawreth Industrial Estate. We didn’t want it, but now we must work to get the best outcome we can. Chris Black has been asking the council some questions recently – here they are, with the answers:
QUESTION
I notice that in the Allocations Document, in the section dealing with Land North Of London Road, it states:
?A Health Impact Assessment must be undertaken and accompany any planning applications to develop the site. Actions required to address any negative impacts identified through the Health Impact Assessment must accompany the development of the site.?
What sort of impacts could these be? Could they result in an additional local GP surgery?
ANSWER:
A Health Impact Assessment should consider the impact of the proposed development on health care provision in the surrounding area, including an assessment of existing healthcare provision at the time the application is made, and whether additional facilities would be required.
A Health Impact Assessment should also look at the wider health impacts of a proposed development, examining such issues as access to open space and leisure facilities; and whether the design of the development would contribute positively towards health through, for example, the density being such that it allowed for good size living and amenity areas.
QUESTION
Who will carry out the assessment? What developers have contacted the council so far regarding “Land North of London Road”
ANSWER
The assessment will have to be submitted alongside the planning application and would be produced by the agent / applicant, or a consultant on their behalf (for example, the health impact assessment for the application to redevelopment the former brickworks site at Star Lane, Great Wakering was produced for the applicant by Pegasus Planning Group). As part of the planning application process, public health (now transferred from NHS to County) will be consulted and have the opportunity to review the assessment (in a similar way to how ECC highways would review a transport assessment submitted alongside a planning application).
Countryside Properties have stated they have control over land between Rawreth Lane and London Road, and are in the process of drawing up a masterplan for the development of the site.
?THREE MORE QUESTIONS
– are Countryside also involved with the redevelopment of the Rawreth Industrial Estate, and how is is that proceeding?Is anything you have told me in this exchange of emails confidential or not suitable for publication?
ANSWER
I do not believe Countryside are directly involved in the redevelopment of the Rawreth Industrial Estate. However, they are mindful of the need to ensure development of the proposed site to the west can integrate with the proposed redevelopment of Rawreth Industrial Estate in the future. Redevelopment of Rawreth Industrial Estate is projected to take place later in the plan period than the adjacent greenfield site.
In terms of progress on redevelopment of the Rawreth Industrial Estate, it is still at a very early stage. Property consultants are currently looking at the detailed viability of redeveloping the site, and of course there remains the matter of ensuring suitable alternative land for displaced businesses is allocated, which the Allocations Document currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate seeks to do.
None of the information I have set out above or below is confidential or unsuitable for publication.
The answer to question two uses an example of the ECC highways department reviewing a transport assessment submitted alongside a planning application. I think the time is right now to be asking the council similar questions regarding highways improvements and I suggest a starter question is: Will street access from both Rawreth Lane and London Road to these estates require additional sets of traffic lights. This should be a major point for debate and requires consultation with residents sooner rather than later!
It’s a very good question….