The Strategy as a whole does not do enough to address the need for affordable housing in the District.
Paragraph 5.50 acknowledges that Rother has one of the highest house price/earnings ratios in the Region. The Council should seek to do more to redress the need for affordable housing. The annual target of 92 affordable homes (paragraph 10.10) is too low - the Rother District Housing Need Survey 2005 showing that 256 additional affordable housing units are needed per annum, with a strong need in the Rye area.
Paragraph 101.0 confirms that the Council's Housing Strategy relies on the majority of affordable housing being delivered through the Section 106 mechanism.
The importance of providing for affordable housing to support balanced, inclusive and vibrant communities is acknowledged at paragraph 10.7.
The Strategy should provide for more housing in line with Distribution Option 5 - Housing Needs Based - and the Vision should reflect an objective to respond positively to housing needs in the District by planning to do much more to meet the known housing needs and contribute to the development of balanced communities throughout the District.
Text of the Strategy associated with this Box should be amended accordingly.