We support the Councils justification for delivering 500 new dwellings. This settlement is clearly sustainable with many services available. An increase of 500 dwellings would represent a significant increase in the housing stock (17% in Battle Parish), even though it is only a 11% increase on what has been suggested. Although Battle falls within the AONB "the SHLAA has revealed that there are sites across the town the development of which, while having some local impact on the AONB setting, could be developed"(para 49 Rother DC Summary Appraisal 2013). Given the above,the prospects of development are currently uncertain for "broad locations", which lead to uncertainty over the Council's housing future housing trajectory.

What is apparent is that without any additional landscape assessment the Council accept considerable opportunities exist within a settlement located in the AONB. Other significant sustainable settlements such as Robertsbridge therefore clearly have greater potential to deliver more housing. This would help meet the District needs but is restricted because a landscape capacity assessment of the SHLAA opportunities of these villages has not been properly undertaken. The Council's current distribution is arbitrary as it lacks the evidence upon which to judge each settlement's housing capacity.