3.5
Support
Proposed Submission Core Strategy
Representation ID: 20544
Received: 21/09/2011
Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd
Agent: Portchester Planning Consultancy
In order to protect the most sensitive parts of the AONB from inappropriate development, maximum use should be made of the larger towns and Rural Service Centres (such as Robertsbridge) to meet the District's development targets.
The fact that 82% of the District lies within the AONB serves to reinforce the importance of making best use of land at the 3 main towns and in the Rural Service Centres, such as Robertsbridge.
Policy EC6.2 of PPS4 advocates locating most new development in such locations, which can include towns and villages.
Robertsbridge is a 'key' settlement in the northern part of the District and has potential to accommodate more housing and employment development than is allocated to it (i.e. Figure 12) without having an adverse impact on the AONB.
Such dvelopment would increase the internal sustainability of the settlement, which benefits from good road and rail connectivity, and enhance its role as a Rural Service Centre serving the rural communities in the northern part of the District.