Reference to ‘ancillary’ with regard to the HDAs in relevant policies and supporting text should be modified to 'functionally linked' and include explanatory text clarifying that 'functionally linked' uses can include a range of activities including: food-related distribution; food manufacturing linked to the HDAs food preparation; on-site renewable energy to serve on-site activities; and R&D.

The Council’s declaration of a climate emergency is welcomed, however there is an opportunity to better align this the Council’s economic strategy within the Local Plan.

Supporting the growth of the horticultural industry to include functionally associated uses, such as food processing/production and increased storage and distribution capabilities, would allow for greater food production on site. This in turn would allow for greater home grown food production and export to the rest of the UK. Accordingly, there would be a reduction in food miles as home-grown food consumption would increase. This would lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

A wording of the HDA policy that facilitated the colocation of functionally linked elements of the food cluster would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the industry through reduce vehicular trip generation –
Refer to Savills SREBR para 4.4.2 – effective storage and distribution hub at Runcton HDA would achieve reduction in food miles by 84000 per annum