The Dedham Vale National Landscape Team's assessment does not support Essex Highways proposal. 

"For the National Landscape team, there remains a key unresolved issue with the current proposal. There has been a perceived sole focus on replacing the existing bridge with a larger (taller and wider) structure which has meant that there
has been a failure to fully assess all viable alternative options for replacement, for example as proposed in the above Morton Partnership correspondence without rational justification. Without considering all options it is difficult for Essex County Council to demonstrate that they have sought to avoid harming the natural beauty features of the Dedham Vale AONB, in this instance the landscape and scenic qualities, a locally listed heritage feature and potentially the tranquillity of the AONB around Boxted Bridge. This raises questions over the degree to which Essex County Council has met their Section 85 seek to further duty obligations. By failing to conserve or enhance the above natural beauty features, the scheme is not considered to conform with paragraph 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework, the objectives of adopted Local Plan policy LP18 or the objectives of policies CS1, CS5, VIR 1, VIR 3 and RAT3 in the Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley Management Plan 2021-2026 ( please see the attached table).

The failure to avoid harm to the landscape and scenic quality, a heritage asset and tranquillity and the failure to help deliver AONB management plan policies directly conflicts with the requirements of the DEFRA Section 85 guidance and further undermines compliance with the strengthened duty. For the reasons set out above the National Landscape cannot support the Boxted Bridge scheme as currently proposed and we reiterate the need for Essex County Council to fully consider all options before the application is determined." (pages 2 & 3)  

Read the full assessment here

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