QUESTION 19: Do you agree with the proposed definition of the Strategic Gaps, and the policy applying to them? If not, what changes would you wish to see?

The Strategic Gap Background Paper assesses 5 strategic gaps in the District. The aims of the strategic gaps are to maintain separate identity and distinctiveness between settlements, maintain settlement patterns and prevent coalescence of settlements.

Of relevance to The Site is the Bexhill and St Leonards strategic gap which is proposed to be extended in a westerly direction, covering the area of the Combe Valley Way and recommended to include the Combe Haven valley and its tributaries. The proposed extension to the Strategic Gap is highlighted in red on Bexhill Map 1 in the Strategic Gap Background Paper, a relevant extract of which is produced in figure 2 below. This is on the basis that the gap has been subject to considerable change with development of the Combe Valley Way releasing land for the north of Bexhill Masterplan.

Figure 2: Extract from Bexhill Map 1 - Strategic Gap Background Paper: http://www.rother.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=28187

Whilst it is understandably necessary to protect landscape character and the relationship of one settlement with another, it is important to stress that our client's site does not have the characteristics required to contribute to the strategic gap. Notably, The Site is not required to create a separate identity between Bexhill and any nearby village, town or settlement to the north or north east of Bexhill. The Site represents only a few small parcels of farmland, land that has a direct relationship with the settlement and an allocated residential site to the immediate south west. It is also not sufficient an area to prevent, or in any way influence, the merging of two adjacent settlements, bearing in mind the significant proximity between Bexhill and other nearby villages beyond the site.

Therefore, whilst it is not entirely clear from the Strategic Gap Plan what land is proposed to be included in the gap, it is abundantly clear that our client's site is not, and should not, be included within that area. In fact, The Site provides an excellent opportunity for new residential development that can contribute positively to the character and appearance of the area and to ensure the housing needs and demands of this locality can be sufficiently met. Land to the north, including the ancient woodland, clearly provides a defensible feature to assist in meeting the strategic gap objectives.

Waste Planning

Policy DEN3: Strategic Gaps & Policy HAS5: Combe Valley Countryside Park
It is noted that Pebsham Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station, which is a safeguarded waste site, and the Pebsham Waste Water Treatment Works are within the Bexhill and Hastings/St Leonards Strategic Gap (DEN3) but excluded from the Countryside Park (HAS5). Additionally, the link between waste management and the Countryside Park as set out in the Pebsham Countryside Park Project Development Strategy (January 2007) appears to have not been pursued. It is suggested that for consistency between these two policies that either the above waste management facilities are excluded from Policy DEN3 or the link between waste management and the Countryside Park is reflected in policy HAS5.