Modification to Core Strategy

Flood risk
The village at Robertsbridge lies at the confluence of the eastern River Rother with the Darwell Petty Sewer. Upstream of Robertsbridge at Etchingham another main river, the River Dudwell joins the Rother valley. In addition there are numerous minor tributaries, which connect with the Rother system upstream.

The eastern Rother rises at Rotherfield and comprises mainly of a clay-based catchment area, which in turn gives rise to high run off during heavy or prolonged rainfall. Robertsbridge is the only major community in Rother District a large part of whose housing stock lies in and around the flood plain. After the serious flood in 2000, which caused expense and misery to 100 properties in Robertsbridge, flood defences were erected. The modelling was based on the existing properties and gave protection for a 1:100 year flood. All flood defences built after this time are built to a 1:200 year flood. Any increase in housing, particularly on green field sites will exacerbate such risks.

Not only have properties been affected by river flooding, but also by surface water flooding. The areas selected for possible development aren't in danger of fluvial flooding but the important thing to remember is that the increased rate of surface water run-off needs to be addressed to avoid problems elsewhere. Since the flood defences have been in place, there have been two flash floods in Robertsbridge with properties some distance from the flood plain being flooded. The clay base gives rise to springs, which if built over can move. A number of properties have been flooded by surface water since the flood defences were operational.

The engineering solutions to this generally involve holding/ storing water and slowing down the rate of run-off to emulate a greenfield situation; this may include the use of attenuation basins, swales and hydro brakes; recent regulations have now introduced the concept of Sustainable urban Drainage Solutions (SuDS) which should be incorporated into the design of any development if possible. Both types of system require space to work and this will limit the amount of houses that can be built in the designated areas.

The Environment Agency's Flood Management Plan (Dec 2009) states that 'surface water flooding due to overloaded drainage is already a problem' (p 13)

Character of the village
Between 1991 and 1998, 166 new dwellings were built in Robertsbridge. As a percentage of population at that time, this represented the highest growth for any rural village or town. Since then there has been 59 new permissions.

It is acknowledged that Robertsbridge has a number of key services unlike many of the rural villages. Also there has been little development since the recession. However, this should not mean that Robertsbridge is ripe for development, particularly if phasing is unacceptable to developers.

Given the life of the new Local Plan, the initial proposal for 119 would be sustainable if there were other community gains. In particular, there is the need for specific accommodation for the elderly and the two Housing Needs Studies identified both this need and the need for affordable homes for young families. However, even with 119 new dwellings, particularly built over a shorter period than 15 years, would create unacceptable traffic and parking issues in a village already experiencing considerable difficulties. Every road exiting the village at present is uncontrolled one way owing to parked vehicles.

Work with Parish and District Councillor:
To achieve consensus on the 119 dwellings a considerable amount of work was done in conjunction with RDC officers, our District Councillor and Parish Councillors. There was reluctant acceptance that sites could be identified to accommodate the 119 without losing the character of the village. However, the increased number will necessitate the loss of potentially two or three greenfield sites. This would have an extremely negative impact, as the numbers cannot be accommodated without building large estates.

Sustainability: Already, without any new dwellings there are a number of pressures and inadequacies in services: already mentioned is the lack of affordable housing and sheltered accommodation for the elderly, the pressure of traffic and parking issues and flood risk; however other issues are already making a negative impact on the village: the doctors' surgery has long been unfit for purpose, the two dentists do not have access for disabled, the pre-school is already over-subscribed, the train service to London is only every hour, there is a demand for employment sites.