The Core Strategy is the key element of the Local Development Framework, and will guide development in the District for the next 20 years.
The Core Strategy for Epping Forest District will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the East of England Plan (EEP), which tells us the number of new homes and jobs that the Core Strategy must make provision for. In addition to this, this Council is required to work in coordination with Harlow and East Herts Councils in order to deliver the regeneration and growth of Harlow over the period to 2021 and beyond.
It is currently anticipated that the Issues & Options consultation of the Core Strategy will take place Autumn 2010.
In the meantime, several technical studies to build the evidence base are being undertaken. Results of this work will be posted on the "AMR & Evidence" page when they are available.
All new planning policy documents need to be subject to a “Sustainability Appraisal”. This is an assessment of the likely economic, environmental and social effects of the new policies. The Sustainability Appraisal provides information to help judge whether the new policies are the most appropriate for the district.
It is a statutory requirement to hold a period of consultation on the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal, the purpose of which is to ensure that all the relevant issues and concerns have been included.
The Harlow Options Appraisal is required to be undertaken by Policy HA1 of the East of England Plan. The Study is a technical report and not a policy document of Epping Forest District Council. It will form part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Evidence Base, and will be taken into account in preparing the emerging LDF Core Strategy.
East of England Plan Policy HA1: Harlow Key Centre Development and Change requires an "appraisal of planning and transport options" for the growth of Harlow, through a "strong partnership approach" involving Harlow, East Herts, and Epping Forest Districts. Government Growth Areas funding was made available to undertake the appraisal. The study sets out the consultant's Suggested Spatial Approach to the urban extensions of Harlow, in Harlow, to the north in East Hertfordshire, and to the south, west and east in Epping Forest District.
It should be noted that the Study is a technical report and not a policy document of Epping Forest District Council. It is a Technical Study which will form part of the Local Development Framework Evidence Base, and will be taken into account in preparing the emerging Core Strategy.
The Study and appendices are available here:
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