5.1 In September 2021, the council approved a Duty to Cooperate Strategy that stipulates how it meet its legal obligations with other specific bodies that it must cooperate with on strategic and cross-boundary matters. These include organisations such as Essex County Council, Highways England, the NHS, the Marine Management Organisation, Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Thematically these strategic and cross boundary issues can be summarised as:

Highways

• A12 widening and junction improvements at Hatfield Peverell, Rivenhall and Witham
• Delivery of local highway infrastructure identified in the current LDP including the South Maldon and North Heybridge Relief Roads

Environment

• Synergy between the South East Marine Plan and the LDP Review
• Impacts of continued growth in Maldon & Heybridge on Air Quality Management Area in Maldon & Danbury (within Chelmsford City area)
• Impact of residential growth on protected habitats in Essex
• Impact of growth on the water cycle

Housing

• Housing market area changes - Maldon is now in a Housing Market Area with Chelmsford and Braintree
• The need and provision of Gypsy & Traveller Transit Sites in Essex

Education

• Primary and secondary education provision and capacity due to growth

Health

• Delivery of strategic infrastructure projects including NHS Health Hubs, GP surgeries and relief roads for Maldon and Heybridge

Issues and Options Consultation Questionnaire