An important part of the plan making process is the Evidence Base. The Evidence Base is a collection of background documents which support the policies and proposals being developed in the new Local Plan. The development of the Evidence Base is ongoing; current documents are available to download below by topic.
Community Involvement
Early Community Engagement Programme 2016
Updated Statement of Community Involvement 2019
Design and Conservation
Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans
Battlesbridge Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Canewdon Church Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Canewdon High Street Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Foulness Churchend Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Great Wakering Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Paglesham Church End Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Paglesham East End Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Rayleigh Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Rochford Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Shopland Churchyard Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2007
Design and Heritage Guidance
Local List Supplementary Planning Document 2013
Historic Environment Characterisation Project 2006
Housing Design Supplementary Planning Document 2007
Parking Standards Design and Good Practice Supplementary Planning Document 2010
Duty to Cooperate
South Essex Statement of Common Ground 2018
South Essex 2050 Memorandum of Understanding 2018
South Essex Strategic Planning Memorandum of Understanding
Duty to Co-operate Topic Paper 2017
Essex Coast Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) Memorandum of Understanding
Economy and Employment
Grown-on Space Studies
South Essex Grow on Space Study 2020
Essex Grown-On Space Feasibility Study 2016
Employment Land Reviews
Commercial Property Market Review 2024
Employment Land Study Report 2014
Employment Land Study Update Final Report 2009
Retail and Leisure Studies
Rochford Retail and Leisure Study Update 2022
South Essex Retail Study - Volume 2: Appendices
South Essex Retail Study - Volume 3: Household Survey
Retail and Leisure Needs Topic Paper 2017
Retail and Leisure Study Update 2014
Growth Strategy
Rochford District Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2025
Rochford District Economic Growth Strategy 2017
Rochford District Growth Strategy 2014
Economic Development Needs Assessments
Rochford Economic Development Needs Assessment 2023
Economic Development Needs Topic Paper 2017
South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment 2017
South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment 2017 - Appendix 1
South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment 2017 - Appendix 2
South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment 2017 - Appendix 3 (large file - may be slow to load)
South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment 2017- Appendix 4
Environment and Landscape
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted Core Strategy 2011
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted Allocations Plan 2014
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted Development Management Plan 2014
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted Hockley Area Action Plan 2014
Final Habitat Regs Assessment – Land west of Hullbridge – 14/00813/OUT
Summary of Responses to Hullbridge HRA
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan 2014
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted Rochford Town Centre Area Action Plan 2015
Habitat Regulations Assessment – Adopted Rayleigh Area Action Plan 2015
Contaminated Land Strategy
Contaminated Land Strategy 2013
Environmental Capacity Study
Environmental Capacity Study 2015
Landscape Assessments
Essex Landscape Character Assessment 2003
Landscape Character Assessment of the Essex Coast 2005
Rochford and Southend Landscape Character, Sensitivity and Capacity Study 2020 (large file - may be slow to load)
Minerals and Waste Plans
Essex and Southend Minerals Local Plan 2014
Essex and Southend Waste Local Plan 2017
Local Wildlife Sites
Local Wildlife Site Review 2007
Local Wildlife Sites Review 2018
Strategic Environmental Assessment Baseline Information Profile (SEA)
Strategic Environmental Assessment Baseline Information Profile (SEA)
Green Belt
Rochford and Southend Stage One and Two Green Belt Study 2020 - Main Report and Appendices 1 and 2
Rochford and Southend Stage One and Two Green Belt Study - Appendix 3
Rochford and Southend Stage One and Two Green Belt Study - Appendix 4 (large file - may be slow to load)
Rochford and Southend Stage One and Two Green Belt Study - Appendix 5
Rochford and Southend Stage One and Two Green Belt Study - Supplementary Assessments
Housing and Population
Urban Capacity Studies
Housing Delivery Test Action Plan
Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2020
Housing Market Assessments
South Essex Housing Needs Assessment (SEHNA) 2022
South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment Addendum 2017 - this addendum to the 2016 SHMA has been prepared by Turleys Associates on behalf of the South Essex authorities to take account of more up to date information, and was published on the Thames Gateway South Essex website on 12 June 2017.
South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2016 Executive Summary
South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2016
Thames Gateway South Essex Fundamental Review of Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2013
Thames Gateway South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment Update 2010
Thames Gateway South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2008
Land Availability Assessments
Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment 2021
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2012
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2009
Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) 2017
Appendix A: Call for Sites Form
Appendix B: Find your Site and Area Maps
Appendix C: Site Assessment Forms (large file may take time to load)
Appendix D: Final Viability Report
Appendix E: Housing Land Trajectory
Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessments
Rochford Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Need Summary 2017
Essex Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment 2014
Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2009
Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) 2018: Rochford Needs Summary
Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) 2018: Essex Need Summary
Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) 2018: Essex Joint Methodology
Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) 2018: Need Summaries for other Authorities
Local Community Plans
Parish Plans
Hullbridge Village Plan 2012-2014
Great Wakering Parish Plan 2015
National Policy
National Planning Policy Framework
Planning Policy for Traveller Sites
Transport and Infrastructure
Transport Studies
Highways Baseline Technical Note 2017
Infrastructure Delivery Plans
Infrastructure Delivery Topic Paper 2017
Cycling and Greenway Studies
Walking and Cycling improvements: National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend 2014
Rochford District Cycling Action Plan 2018
Open Space Studies
South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy 2020
Sports and Recreation Studies
Indoor Built Facilities Assessment Report 2018
Indoor Built Facilities Strategy and Action Plan 2018
Playing Pitch Assessment Report 2018
Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan 2018
Playing Pitch Strategy Supplementary Planning Document 2012
Essex Sports Facilities Strategy 2007-2020
Local Transport Plan
Sustainability and Viability
Sustainability Appraisal
Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2017
Affordable Housing Viability Study
Affordable Housing Viability Study 2010
Water and Flood Risk
Flood Risk Assessments
Essex Flood Risk Management Strategy 2013
Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment for Essex 2011
Rochford District Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2011 - Level 1 and 2 Report
Thames Gateway South Essex Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Review - Scoping Report 2009
Thames Gateway South Essex Flood Risk Assessment 2006
South Essex Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2018
South Essex Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2018 - Appendix A (large file - may be slow to load)
South Essex Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2018 - Appendix B (large file - may be slow to load)
Coast, River and Estuary Management Plans
Crouch and Roach Estuary Management Plan 2005
Essex and South Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan 2010
River Basin Management Plan - Anglian River Basin District 2009
Surface Water Management Plan
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 (Phase 2, 3 and 4)
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix A1
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix A2
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix A3
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix D
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix E3
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix F1
Surface Water Management Plan 2012 Appendix F4
South Essex Surface Water Management Plan 2011 (Phase 1)
Water Cycle Studies
Essex Thames Gateway Water Cycle Study - Technical Report 2011