Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
(19) 2. Vision, Overall Priorities and Objectives
By 2040:
Rother District will be an attractive, desirable and affordable place to live, work and visit. The needs of all the local community will be met, with an emphasis on enhanced health and wellbeing for now and into the future. Bold solutions will have successfully addressed the climate and biodiversity emergencies and the housing crisis while protecting the High Weald National Landscape, our designated habitats, our heritage and our flood risk areas.
Development will be truly sustainable:
Major development[114] will be focused in places where sustainable development can be achieved. All development will be net zero carbon ready and provide biodiversity net gain. Sensitive, sustainable and well-designed development that meets local housing and employment needs will be complemented by the timely delivery of supporting infrastructure. The district will contribute to the UK's carbon sequestration and nature recovery goals.
Quality of Life will be enhanced:
Residents will be able to live well locally within safe, balanced and age-friendly communities, where residents and visitors can reach the facilities and services they need, often by walking, cycling and public transport. Better local job opportunities will support flexible and changing working patterns with improved broadband coverage across the district.
Close working with Parish and Town Councilswill ensurethat strategic planningpriorities, objectives and policies aresupported by our local communities,particularly through Neighbourhood Plans.
(2) 2.1 The Vision for Rother District is an important starting point for the Local Plan. The vision is ambitious but achievable. It sets an overarching picture for the Local Plan's priorities, strategies and policies to work towards.
(4) 2.2 RDC has declared a climate emergency and this is the defining issue of our times. Local planning authorities have a legal duty[8] to ensure that planning policy contributes to the mitigation of, and adaption to, climate change.
(2) 2.3 Our complex challenges require bold solutions. The Plan must seek to maximise housing delivery in a manner that is appropriate for the protected national landscape and habitat areas which form much of its context. The Plan must also futureproof policy to build in flexibility as national policy and the economy changes.
Question Box
(41) 1. What are your views on the Council's Vision?
Overall Priorities
(2) 2.4 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004[9] sets out that each local planning authority must identify their strategic priorities and have policies to address these in their Local Plan (taken as a whole).
(2) 2.5 Twin Overall Priorities have been identified to meet the Local Plan's vision and create clear concepts against which the Plan's strategies and policies – and decision-making – can be tested.
(9) Overall Priority 1 – Green to the Core
What does Green to the Core mean?
Being Green to the Core means considering the impact of all planning decisions on the climate emergency, the biodiversity crisis and the High Weald Area National Landscape.
It means:
- contributing to the radical reduction in carbon emissions required by national planning policy through planning for sustainable transport, net zero housing and renewable energy; and
- playing a key role in the UK's nature recovery and carbon sequestration through enhancing our landscape and environmental assets.
(3) 2.6 Paragraph 157 of the NPPF states that the planning system 'should support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate, taking full account of flood risk and coastal change. It should help to: shape places in ways that contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimise vulnerability and improve resilience; encourage the reuse of existing resources, including the conversion of existing buildings; and support renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure'.
(1) 2.7 The Council declared a Climate Emergency in September 2019. Our adopted Climate Strategy 2023 sets out how the Council will use its powers and influence to make the district climate-resilient, and reduce emissions to net zero, by 2030. This recognises the role of the Local Plan in mitigating future emissions.
(2) 2.8 In tandem with the Climate Emergency, there is a biodiversity crisis. The Environment Act 2021 includes a target to halt the decline of nature by 2030, and mandates Biodiversity Net Gain for developments. Rother's rural landscape and coastal environment can play a key role in the nation's nature recovery. It also makes a strong contribution to carbon sequestration.
(14) Overall Priority 2 – Live Well Locally
What does Live Well Locally mean?
The Live Well Locally concept means considering, when making all planning decisions, the goal of creating:
Healthy, sustainable and inclusive communities that support residents across the age spectrum in terms of housing, access to jobs, services and facilities.
'Connected and compact neighbourhoods' in our towns with 'village clusters' in our rural locations, where people can meet most of their daily needs within a reasonable distance of their home, with the option to walk, wheel, cycle (active travel) or use public transport.
New development that creates places that are not just visually appealing, but also inspire and foster a sense of belonging, identity, and shared experience.
(10) 2.9 Live Well Locally promotes the idea that residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds should be able to access their daily needs (housing, work, food, health, education and culture and leisure) as locally as possible and have the option to do this by walking, wheeling, cycling or by public transport.
(1) 2.10 Creating connected communities can enable people to Live Well Locally and improve health and wellbeing through better air quality, more physical activity, greater nature connection and social interaction.
(2) 2.11 As a predominantly rural district, where there is a high reliance on the private car, decarbonisation of our transport emissions will be assisted if there is a pattern of development which makes it quicker and easier to travel by sustainable means; efficient use of infrastructure networks; and more public and active travel.
2.12 The Local Plan contains two chapters on Green to the Core and Live Well Locally which build on these descriptions and present planning policies under each of the two overall priorities.
Key Planning Issues
(7) 2.13 Under its 'Green to the Core' and 'Live Well Locally' Overall Priorities, the Local Plan will seek to address the following key planning issues, which directly feed into the objectives identified at the end of this chapter:
- delivering carbon reduction and adaptation to climate change, and responding to the locally declared 'Climate Emergency';
- meeting the overall local demand and need for housing (including affordable and specialist need) and associated growth – taking a landscape and sustainability led approach across the district;
- securing economic improvement in a challenging local and national economic cycle that requires ongoing flexibility;
- providing better access to jobs, services and facilities across the district, and specifically supporting rural economies and communities, making them more sustainable, through meeting the needs of residents and visitors;
- conserving and enhancing the significant landscape and environmental quality across the district, particularly the High Weald National Landscape, Pevensey Levels and Dungeness Complex of Habitats Sites alongside delivering biodiversity gains and improvements to green infrastructure;
- delivering district-wide and neighbourhood infrastructure to support growth, and strengthening the sustainability of settlements and communities;
- planning for physical and mental health and wellbeing by supporting strong, safe and sustainable communities, with a community-led focus, promoting healthier lifestyles, reducing inequality and deprivation;
- planning for an ageing population, responding to the needs for adaptable homes and a range of accommodation needs;
- providing better facilities for sports, leisure, culture and tourism to meet the needs of the local community and those visiting the area; and
- managing uncertainties and contingency planning, including long-term climate change resilience.
Strategic Spatial Objectives
2.14 The Council has developed ten key objectives which stem directly from the Vision for the Plan and link to the Council's two Overall Priorities. Figure 6 below provides a list of the objectives, linked to the chapters within the Local Plan, and provides a summary of how the objectives can be achieved through the development of policies in the Local Plan.
(14) Figure 6: Rother Local Plan Strategic Spatial Objectives
Spatial Objective
How can we achieve this?
- Deliver net zero carbon ambitions through effective and supportive planning policies.
- Direct development to sustainable locations, with services and transport options.
- Develop planning policy that contributes to the radical reductions in emissions required nationally, whilst still making development viable.
- Work with other departments and key partners to support renewable energy schemes and provide local solutions which can be delivered by local individuals, town and parish councils and other community organisations.
- Maximise opportunities for nature recovery and biodiversity net gain and preserve the historic landscape character of the High Weald National Landscape and protected habitat areas of Rother and ensure sensitive development that allows communities to thrive.
- Comprehensively assess development sites for their landscape and biodiversity impact including on the scenic beauty of the designated High Weald National Landscape through the Local Plan evidence base (Housing and Economic Lane Availability Assessment (HELAA) and the Settlement Study).
- Deliver the ambitions and policy direction of the High Weald National Landscape Management Plan and Design Guide.
- Promote high quality design and protect and enhance Rother's built and natural heritage, while providing opportunities for recreation and tourism.
- Provide policies that promote high quality design for new development.
- Provide policies which protect and enhance our natural and built heritage.
- Provide supportive policies for tourism and recreation uses within urban and rural areas, where appropriate and not in conflict with environmental designations and constraints.
- Respond to the housing crisis and help facilitate the delivery of housing to meet the needs of different groups in the community, ensuring a variety of high-quality sustainable, zero carbon ready dwellings that meet the needs and income levels of Rother's wider population for their lifetime.
- Maximise the potential opportunities for residential development in sustainable and deliverable locations.
- Help deliver affordable housing, specialist housing for older people, custom and self-build housing and gypsy and traveller sites.
- Ensure development is viable and supports growth in the district by providing certainty for developers through site allocations and clear planning policies.
- Deliver sustainable growth and regeneration in Bexhill and its edges, along with Hastings Fringes, with supporting infrastructure, contributing to the needs of the wider housing and economic market area.
- The HELAA assesses the suitability of sites to identify potential site allocations.
- The development strategy will direct development to the most appropriate and sustainable locations.
- Local Plan Transport Assessment will provide evidence for key strategic improvements required to the transport network around Bexhill/Hastings.
- The Council will work closely with HBC to deliver a shared vision including cross-boundary strategic infrastructure and consideration of growth options.
- Create economic prosperity, both in rural and urban locations, meeting the employment needs of the wider population, improving the quality and variety of jobs, and being flexible to the changing needs of the economy.
- Allocate sites and provide supportive policies for economic growth (for specific needs).
- Provide a flexible approach in planning policy to react to changing economic needs.
- Work with other departments and external partners to improve the local employment offer, especially in relation to rural communities.
- Focus growth in sustainable locations across the district, or places that can be made sustainable through supporting infrastructure and community facilities.
- The Settlement Study provides a greater understanding of the sustainability, form and function of towns and villages.
- The HELAA helps identify potential sites for development and provides evidence for site allocations.
- The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) will assist in directing and prioritising strategic and local infrastructure needs.
- Enhance the sustainability and connectivity of local communities through sustainable transport measures and improved internet network coverage.
- The Settlement Study provides a greater understanding of the sustainability, form and function of towns and villages.
- The Local Plan Transport Assessment will look at ways to enhance sustainable transport options across the district.
- Liaise with infrastructure providers (including broadband providers) as part of the IDP.
- Support and achieve safe, healthy, vibrant and mixed communities where the physical and mental health of residents is a high priority. Create high standards of inclusivity and accessibility to shared facilities for all the district's residents.
- Elevate the priority of health matters in Local Plan policy and work with East Sussex County Council's (ESCC) Healthy Places team within Public Health to develop supportive planning policies.
- The Settlement Study provides a greater understanding of the sustainability, services and facilities within towns and villages and their accessibility.
- Balance strategic planning with the opportunities for local delivery through neighbourhood planning.
- Promote and support neighbourhood planning, alongside the Local Plan. Work with parish/town councils to understand and balance the role of strategic delivery in the Local Plan to local delivery in the Neighbourhood Plan.
(1) 2.15 The following diagram (Figure 7) provides a pictorial representation of how the overall priorities concept and key themes work together to support and deliver sustainable development. The two overall priorities of 'Green to the Core' and 'Live Well Locally' sit at the centre and are instrumental in helping shape the district's development strategy. This then determines the housing, economic, infrastructure and health and wellbeing policies. These are set within the confines of the district's landscape character, environmental designations and built heritage. These areas of planning policy ensure that development is appropriate and sustainable and that everything that sits outside is unsustainable.
Question Box
(39) 4. What are your views on the Council's objectives for the Local Plan?
(16) 5. Are there any alternatives or additional objectives and/or the ways to achieve the objectives the Council should be considering?
(1) Figure 7: Delivering sustainable development through the Local Plan
Strategic and Non-Strategic Policies
(2) 2.16 The Local Plan contains both strategic and non-strategic policies. Strategic policies set out the overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places and make sufficient provision, in line with the presumption in favour of sustainable development. Non-strategic policies set out more detailed policies for specific areas and types of development, including site allocations. The Local Plan policies are defined as 'strategic' or 'non-strategic' as set out in Appendix 1.
[7] Housing development where 10 or more homes is proposed, or the site has an area of 0.5 hectares or more. Non-residential development where additional floorspace of 1,000m2 or more, is proposed or the site has an area of 1 hectare or more, or as otherwise provided in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
[8] Section 19 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as amended by the Planning Act 2008; Climate Change Act 2008, Environmental Assessment Regulations 2004
[9] Section 19(1B)-(1E) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
