Object
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19087
Received: 11/11/2008
Respondent: Courtley Consultants Ltd
Agent: Courtley Consultants Ltd
Better and more sustainable distribution of rural housing based on the identified settlement hierarachy.
Not allow unsustainable smaller settlements to contribute to housing numbers unless they meet local needs on unsustainale locations via exemption policies.
Remove the 65 dwellings suggested under the "Exception Sites" These are unidentied and thus Windfall contrary to Government Policy.
Finally the Council should refer under Para (i) as Providing a "minimum" for1,250-1300 dwellings
(b)Community Development
add
(iv)specific provision for Open Space should be provided in rural settlements of need i.e. Robertsbrige.
(e)For Housing
(i)Insert word "minimum " 1250-1300 dwellings.
add in after"table below" in paragraph(iv)in order of settlement hierarchy on the basis of sustainability.
Then in Table seperate the settlement catagory into Rural Service Centres ie Rbertsbridge and Ticehurst and Local Service Villages ie Burwash, Hurst Green,Sedlescombe,Nothiam,Westfield, Peasmarsh and Catsfield.
All other settlements refered to in the table should be removed. If local affordable housing need is identified the rural Exception Policy should apply as these remaining settlements would otherwise be unsustainable and as these sites would be unidentified sites and could not be included in the 5 to 15 year availability test.
On the same basis the 65 dwellings under Exception Sites should also be removed from this table.
As Robertsbridge is one if the most sustainable settlements and is recognised as a Rural Service Centre a greater number of dwellings should be given to its range. We propose additional dwellings of 50-100 range in acknowledgement to its regional importance in Rother over the next 20 years.
Para(v) on phasing should ensure the Councils maintains its continued 5 year housing supply and meets it housing needs locally.