Support
Proposed Submission Core Strategy
Representation ID: 20546
Received: 21/09/2011
Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd
Agent: Portchester Planning Consultancy
It is essential that maximum use is made of appropriate sites in the Rural Service Centres in order to meet local needs and support vibrant and viable mixed communtiies in rural areas.
The land at Grove Farm, Robertsbridge is an example of how this can be achieved in the northern part of the District, supporting the rural communities, without harm to the AONB.
Rural Areas - meeting the needs of the rural communties is fundamental if the rural communtiies are to be supported and enhanced.
It is essential that appropriate levels of additional housing and employment development are allocated to the Rural Sevice Centres, such as Robertsbridge, in order to both protect and enhance their sustainability and also to expand the range of local shops, services and facilities they offer and to provide additional smaller dwellings suitable for younger people and young families.
For example, Robertsbridge could accommodate more housing than allocated to it in Figure 12, without any adverse impact on the AONB.
In particular, the land at Grove Farm, Robertsbridge, has greater potential than the 35 dwellings identified in the SHLAA and greater than the (at least) 30 dwellings allocated to it as a reserve housing site under the provsions of Local Plan Policy VL7. It is estimated that the capacity of the site (i.e. RB2, 4, 5 & 7) is around 90 dwellings.
This site can be developed without adverse impact on the ANOB and is physically and visually enclosed by the A21 by-pass. As such it is a good opportunity to support the modest growth of Robertsbridge in a sustainable way.