These comments are submitted as a joint response from the Spindlewood Drive Action Group (SPINDAG) and thus represent the majority views of a large number of local residents (c 400) living in and around the Spindlewood Drive proposed development area.

Of the 4 options proposed for BX101, Option 1- employment and redevelopment - is one of the better overall solutions. This is because there is a burning need for locally based employment around Bexhill and Little Common in particular and is especially relevant now that Barnhorn Green is proceeding with its 342 properties with little prospect of direct employment on that site.

If option 1 were chosen, a pedestrian and cycling link connecting BX101 and BX120 via BX47 and BX60 should be provided to connect to Coneyburrow Lane. This would, of course, be of great benefit to the residents, is environmentally friendly and would avoid unnecessary car access via the A259.

Option 2 - residential - is less desirable. It might be that this option might have to be considered if the overall Bexhill target set by RDC of 3100 properties is unlikely to be met. This may not become obvious for a few years and until firm plans and property numbers are known for sites such as

1. BX120 - the possibility of more residential houses on this site
2. BX124 - the possibility that more than 450 properties may be built here (Options 2 and 3)
3. The number of small and large site windfalls achieved during the period 2016 - 2021 may well exceed those envisaged by RDC in the Housing Land supply document as @ 1/4/2016.
4. It may well be that once these figures are known, any large scale residential development in or around Little Common may be rendered redundant.
Option 2 is not ideal however because of the impact this will have on the infrastructure of Little Common as a whole which will already be struggling with the impact of Barnhorn Green and other proposed smaller sites along Barnhorn Road and Cooden Sea Road. These could well result in a total of 400 new properties in a very small radius and thus no further large scale residential developments should be contemplated around Little Common including BEX9 (BX116) as well as BX101.

There is an option 5 however - a combined mixed site solution of options 1 and 2 . For example, 3-50 residential houses together with employment and redevelopment. This just might be the best solution of all.

Conclusion

Options 1 and 2 should be considered with preference give to option 1 but there might also be a compromise of a mixed site development combining options 1 and 2 but with only small scale residential development.

Large scale residential development of BX101 should be avoided at all costs to reduce the impact on Little Common's lack of suitable infrastructure.