15. AREA STRATEGY (C): RYE

15.1 Rye is a small market town (with a population estimated in mid 2006 at 4,159) at the eastern end of the District which acts as a service centre for its rural hinterland which extends into the fringes of Ashford and Shepway districts.

15.2 The Local Plan's current planning strategy for Rye aims to support its market town role, including as a centre for employment, and recognise its unique historic, maritime and environmental qualities.

15.3 The strategy is set out in the box below:

15.4 Future options for the town could aim to consolidate or even expand this market town role. Work undertaken for the Local Plan Inquiry supported the view that there is a need for further shopping floorspace in the town, specifically for convenience goods.

15.5 The retail capacity of the town will require further detailed assessment and analysis ahead of the next stage of the Core Strategy's preparation. The commercial activity in the town contributes to its sense of vibrancy.

15.6 Jobs in Rye are focused on the service, retail and tourism sectors. An issue for Rye may be the seasonality of tourism-related employment and the tendency for such work to be relatively low paid. Additionally, there is a high proportion of self employment with 1 in 4 Rye workers being self employed, which is perhaps a measure of the levels of entrepreneurship in the town.

15.7 The Rye Harbour Road area is an established focus for industrial activity and includes a wharf for the transportation of freight by sea. The future industrial/employment role of the area needs consideration, taking into account the constraints to which the Rye Harbour Road area is subject.

15.8 The generally prosperous feel of the town is contrasted with some comparatively high deprivation levels in parts of the town revealed by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (2004). Levels of child poverty are a particular concern.

15.9 Primary school provision in Rye is currently being reviewed by East Sussex County Council. It is looking at a single new school option.

15.10 The Rye Local Area Transport Strategy (April 2003) identifies transportation problems experienced in the town and provides a framework for improvements in the short, medium and longer terms.

15.11 The town is served by both rail and trunk roads (A259) although their effectiveness as strategic transport links is constrained. Also, the A259, by virtue of its route through the town and the volumes and nature of traffic using it, acts a barrier to movements across parts of the town.

15.12 The Rye Tidal Walls Scheme is scheduled for completion in early 2008 although it may now be finished before the end of 2007. It will give those parts of the town to the west of the River Rother (and the Brede) protection from a 1 in 200 year tidal flooding event.

15.13 The consolidation of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the vicinity of Rye and Rye Harbour is a current proposal by English Nature.

Future development options

15.14 In view of its sensitive landscape setting, historic core and accessibility limitations as well as the proximity of nationally and internationally important wildlife habitats and flooding considerations, it is not anticipated that the Core Strategy should propose that Rye should be a focus for high levels of future growth.

15.15 Equally, options for the future of Rye could not include a 'no change' option. It should be anticipated that national and regional planning policy will continue to support development on sites within the existing confines of settlements over the timeframe of the Core Strategy. Indeed, the analysis in the preceding section does reveal some need and opportunity for planned change in Rye.

Option 1 - Enhancement of service centre role

15.16 A continuation of the existing Local Plan development strategy to cover the timeframe of the Core Strategy would constitute a medium growth option for the town with some new development planned.

15.17 This could bring with it the enhancement of its service centre role by providing, for example, increased employment opportunities or accessibility improvements.

Option 2 - Consolidation

15.18 In contrast, a lower growth option could largely limit development to infilling and development or redevelopment largely within the confines of the town.

15.19 The aim would be to make the best of any development opportunities within the town to consolidate both its role and its urban 'form'.

15.20 Such an approach is likely to add to the pressure for more intensive development and would limit, in particular, the scope to increase the supply of affordable housing in the town.

15.21 It may link with higher level growth options for Bexhill and the fringes of Hastings.