Core Strategy Adopted
The Rochford District Core Strategy was formally adopted by the Council on 13 December 2011 following the Planning Inspectorate's decision that the Plan was sound and legally compliant. The Rochford District Core Strategy is the main document of the Local Development Framework (LDF) and sets out the overall strategy for the future development of the District.
The adopted Core Strategy can be downloaded below:
Rochford District Core Strategy Adopted Version
Core Strategy Adoption - Formal Adoption Statement
Core Strategy Adoption - SA/SEA Adoption Statement
Core Strategy Adoption - Inspector's Report
Core Strategy Adoption - Inspector's Report - Schedule A
Core Strategy Adoption - Inspector's Report - Schedule B
Core Strategy Adoption - Inspector's Report - Schedule C
Implications of Technical Housing Standards: In March 2015 the Government introduced new national technical housing standards in England and detailed how these would be applied through planning policy. This new national approach includes additional ‘optional’ Building Regulations on water efficiency and access, and a nationally described space standard. These new standards came into effect on 1 October 2015. From this date, relevant Core Strategy policies should be interpreted by reference to the nearest equivalent new national technical standard. More information on these changes can be found here
Rochford District Council Core Strategy and NPPF Compliance Review
Following the publication of the National Planning Policy (NPPF) it was necessary to consider how compliant the Rochford Core Strategy was with the new national framework.
The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) created an NPPF compliance checklist to assist Local Planning Authorities in assessing their Core Strategies. Rochford District Council has used this check list as the basis for its own assessment of its Core Strategy.
Rochford District Council has evaluated its Core Strategy and is satisfied that it is compliant with the NPPF. The Compliance Review identifies the key planning policy issues raised in the NPPF.
The NPPF Compliance Review will assist applicants, agents and members of the public in understanding how the Council has applied the policies from within the Core Strategy in relation to the NPPF when considering planning applications and producing new planning documents.
The NPPF Compliance Review can be downloaded below:
Core Strategy NPPF Compliance Review
Core Strategy Legal Challenge
On the 19 January 2012, Rochford District Council received notification of a legal challenge to the Core Strategy. The legal challenge was brought by Cogent Land LLP, who were seeking to quash certain policies namely; H1, H2, H3 and paragraphs 4.1 to 4.31 in the Core Strategy which relate to Housing. The rest of the Core Strategy was unaffected by this challenge.
Counsel was instructed to defend this claim. Formal grounds of resistance were filed with the Court and the hearing was heard over two days in Cardiff on 31 May and 1 June 2012. On September 21 the Judge ruled in favour of Rochford District Council. More information on the legal challenge, including the full judgment can be downloaded below.
Core Strategy Legal Challenge - Particulars of claim
Core Strategy Legal Challenge - High Court Judgment handed down September 21 2012
Examination
The Public Examination into the 'soundness' and 'legal compliance' of the Rochford District Core Strategy took place between January 2010 (when the Council submitted the Core Strategy Submission Document to the Secretary of State) and November 2011 (when the Inspector's Report was published).
More information on the examination can be found here.
Submission Document
The 2009 Submission Document sets out the proposed approach to the future development of the District, setting out general policies for a number of uses including housing, employment, the natural environment, and community facilities. This document was consulted on between 21 September and 2 November 2009.
The Submission Document and other key documents, including the Sustainability Appraisal of the Plan which assesses the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the options, can be downloaded from the table below:
Comments made during consultation on the Submission Document can be viewed here
Revised Preferred Options Document
The 2008 Revised Preferred Options Document sets out the Council’s revised preferred options for tackling the challenges the District faces and for taking advantage of the District's opportunities in spatial terms. For each strategy and action the Council stated its preferred option and, where appropriate, an alternative option. This document was consulted on between 5 November and 17 December 2008.
The Revised Preferred Options Document and other key documents, including the Sustainability Appraisal of the Plan which assesses the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the options, can be downloaded from the table below:
Comments made during the consultation on the Revised Preferred Options Document can be viewed here.
Preferred Options Document
The 2007 Preferred Options Document sets out the Council's preferred options for the issues affecting the future development of the district. This document was consulted on between 21 May and 2 July 2007.
The Preferred Options Document and other key documents, including the Sustainability Appraisal of the Plan which assesses the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the options, can be downloaded from the table below:
Issues and Options Document
The 2006 Issues and Options Document identifies a range of issues and sets out potential options to address these.
The Issues and Options Document and other key documents, including the Sustainability Appraisal of the Plan which assesses the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the options, can be downloaded from the table below:
Comments received during the consultation, including student workshops, can be downloaded below:
Contact Us
If you need more information on the Core Strategy, please contact the Planning Policy team on 01702 318191 or email using this form