2.14
Object
Proposed Submission Core Strategy
Representation ID: 20543
Received: 21/09/2011
Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd
Agent: Portchester Planning Consultancy
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
Having set a locally derived housing target to meet the needs of the community in Rother it is essential that that number of dwellings is actually delivered within the plan period, irrespective of whether or not the Bexhill/Hasting road link is provided.
If the road link does not go ahead the housing allocation related to it should be re-allocated in other parts of the Distict, including in the Rural Service Centres.
The locally derived housing target for Rother is heavily based on the 'Housing Provision in Rother District, Background Paper' (08/11).
The reduced target is justified mainly on the basis of the late/non-delivery of the Bexhill/Hastings link Road and the economic recession.
The new target of 3,700-4,100 dwellings for 2011-2028 (210-241 dwellings pa) is a signifcant reduction from the SEP target of 5,600 dwellings (280 dwellings pa), and whilst over the period up to 2028 this would equate to around 90% of the SEP figure for the period uo to 2026, it remains essential that the new target is actually 'delivered' in full in order to meet that which has been calculated to be the locally derived need.
It is not acceptable, as the Core Strategy implies elswhere, that if the road link does not receive funding that the housing target will be reduced.
The locally dervided target is required to meet the locally determined 'need' and should be met in other ways if the road link does not go ahead.
To fail to provide this number in full would mean that local housing needs are not met, particularly in relation to affordable housing, as well as general housing need and market affordability.
Failure to provide the revised locally dervied housing target would mean a failure in the delivery of the spatial strategy and therefore a failure of the Core Strategy.