Comment

Representation ID: 19581

Received: 28/01/2009

Respondent: Ticehurst Parish Council

Rural Settlements Study
Ticehurst Village Appraisal
We accept that we should carry our share of the housing proposed in the SEPLAN through the provision of 50 new dwellings between 2006 and 2026 in spite of the fact that we have taken well over our share for the last 20 years..
BUT we are determined that the type of dwelling to be provided shall be of a type that is in demand within the community
The HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY produced for the parish by Action in rural Sussex in 2007 demonstrates the need for 52 "AFFORDABLE homes". The provision of these homes is plainly a major concern for the Council.. IF HASTOE housing could provide say 15 dwellings on an EXCEPTION SITE and the redevelopment at Woodroffe Lodge provide a further 12 we would be a long way towards achieving our target.
National and local statistics show a constantly rising proportion of our population to be over retirement age. We believe that the greatest demand within the private sector is for relatively modest 1/2/3 bedroom dwellings frequently for retirement, for our ageing population when down sizing from a larger house. Experience has shown that many of the smaller and cheaper properties in the parish have been bought by first time buyers and subsequently application is made to expand and improve the property increasing its size and value, leaving an ever decreasing stock of smaller dwellings available foe people wanting to downsize. This problem would be solved to some extent by the availability of apartment dwellings which cannot be physically enlarged or substantially altered.
This demand could well be served by a 25 unit apartment block such as that proposed by Court Royal for the site at Warrens redundant bus station. This is probably the ONLy SITE within the village envelope within easy walking distance .of the village centre that could accommodate a viable size of residential apartment building.. If this development could be achieved in conjunction with an adjacent exception site to the rear ofHillbury Gardens we would more than fulfil the quota of 50 dwellings between now and 2026 since the development at Lower St Mary's should be included in this time frame.
We are concerned to ensure that the village would not be put under pressure to increase the allocation ofnew homes just because we had filled our quota early in the 20 year time frame. Any proposals for development of "Hanky Field" to the west of the school should be rejected as being excessive in proportion to our current community.