Comment

Development and Site Allocations (DaSA) Local Plan - Options and Preferred Options

Representation ID: 23248

Received: 20/02/2017

Respondent: Sedlescombe Parish Council

Representation Summary:

Option B is preferred.

There is a disconnect between RDC's housing policy and core strategy. The core strategy attempts to increase affordable housing in isolated rural areas without good public transport/shopping facilities whilst the housing policy relocate persons from Bexhill to rural areas, taking individuals from a well serviced town to poorly serviced isolated areas whilst by virtue of the bidding system placing those in rural areas in areas away from where they live/work. The impact of CIL in northern Rother and 40% affordable housing requirement will suppress housing delivery as it will reduce developer profitability. Policies must be dovetailed.

Full text:

Affordable housing: 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.