Call for Sites

We carried out a "call for sites" as part of two studies that were being undertaken on housing land availability and employment land and premises. These studies, known as the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and Employment Land Review (ELR), were undertook in parallel and will identify land and premises suitable for either housing or employment uses or a mix of the two, assess how much each site can deliver and when they are most likely to be developed.

We carried out these studies to inform their Local Development Framework. Putting a site forward however does not guarantee that the Council will allocate it, or support its development in the future. The Council, together with its study partners, will assess the sites nominated in the "call for sites" (along with sites that they already know about) within the context of the spatial strategy in its adopted Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) 2007 and national and regional policy.

The Core Strategy DPD identifies areas of policy restraint and broad locations of growth. In particular the Council is seeking to promote growth and regeneration in the Town Centre, Seafront and Shoeburyness. These studies will therefore inform the preparation of the following Local Development Documents:

• Town Centre Area Action Plan
• Seafront Area Action Plan
• Shoeburyness Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document

In addition we are preparing a Waste Core Strategy DPD and would welcome suggestions for potential sites or areas within the Borough that may be suitable for Waste Management Facilities. Such sites may be taken forward in the Council's Site Allocations DPD as a means of delivering its Waste Core Strategy. The choice as to which sites will be selected for inclusion in these LDDs is to be made as part of the plan making process and decisions will be taken with regard to the planning policy framework set out in the adopted Core Strategy DPD and associated Sustainability Appraisal (including assessments required under the Habitats Regulations) and will be subject to full consultation with the community and stakeholders.