Policy option B is preferred. There is a disconnect between RDC's housing policy and its Core Strategy. The Core Strategy attempts to increase affordable housing in isolated rural areas without good public transport or shopping facilities whilst the housing policy seeks to relocate persons from Bexhill to rural areas. Thereby taking
individuals from a well serviced town to poorly serviced isolated areas whilst at the same time by virtue of the bidding system placing those who live and work in rural areas not able to locate near where they live and work. The combined cost of the CIL in Northern Rother and the cost of the affordable housing requirement of 40% will suppress housing delivery as the combination of the two costs will reduce developer profitability by approximately 1/3rd which will drive developers to more profitable areas with a lower affordable housing requirement. Policies need to be dovetailed to allow people who work in or near their village to be able to easily access affordable housing but equally importantly low cost starter homes for those
unable to meet the housing list requirements but who are still unable to afford market price housing in rural villages.