QUESTION 46: Do you agree with the recommendation regarding the Bexhill development boundary? If not, please explain how you wish the development boundary to be applied to this area?

Showing comments and forms 1 to 11 of 11

Comment

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

Representation ID: 22013

Received: 03/01/2017

Respondent: Chris Horne

Representation Summary:

Not agreed.
Changes proposed are self serving simply to include development sites, some of which have already been granted planning permission.
This does not accord with the need for local consultation and could provide for future legal challenge?

Full text:

Not agreed.
Changes proposed are self serving simply to include development sites, some of which have already been granted planning permission.
This does not accord with the need for local consultation and could provide for future legal challenge?

Comment

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

Representation ID: 22034

Received: 04/01/2017

Respondent: Mr Charles Coombes

Representation Summary:

Do not agree. There should be no change to the Bexhill development boundary.
Keep existing boundary and use Brownfield sites for residential use with it.

Full text:

Do not agree. There should be no change to the Bexhill development boundary.
Keep existing boundary and use Brownfield sites for residential use with it.

Comment

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

Representation ID: 22592

Received: 19/02/2017

Respondent: Bexhill Wheelers

Representation Summary:

agree

Full text:

agree

Comment

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

Representation ID: 22712

Received: 20/02/2017

Respondent: Cantelupe Community Association

Representation Summary:

Cantelupe Community Association believes that particular care should be taken to protect open spaces, particularly green open spaces, within development boundaries as they are by nature scarce and therefore often highly valued and needed by the communities within those development boundaries. The Association would wish to see emphasis placed on this point within this document - Development and Site Allocations (DaSA) Local Plan. This would be inline with the Bexhill Local Action Plan. One such site which should be protected and thus removed as being 'preferred' is BEX5, Knole Road, Bexhill.

Full text:

Cantelupe Community Association believes that particular care should be taken to protect open spaces, particularly green open spaces, within development boundaries as they are by nature scarce and therefore often highly valued and needed by the communities within those development boundaries. The Association would wish to see emphasis placed on this point within this document - Development and Site Allocations (DaSA) Local Plan. This would be inline with the Bexhill Local Action Plan. One such site which should be protected and thus removed as being 'preferred' is BEX5, Knole Road, Bexhill.

Comment

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

Representation ID: 22814

Received: 20/02/2017

Respondent: Mrs M Cantrell

Representation Summary:

I agree and comment sounds very positive, engage with local residents and businesses and I trust they will respond.

Full text:

I agree and comment sounds very positive, engage with local residents and businesses and I trust they will respond.

Comment

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

Representation ID: 22862

Received: 15/02/2017

Respondent: Mr Paul Ritson

Representation Summary:

There is concern over traffic on St. Mary's Lane. The existing access onto/from the A269 is dangerous. Sidley bypass will exacerbate problems.

We have suggestions to make:-

*No new access onto St. Mary's Lane.

*Build a new section of road between the lane meeting the A269 south east of the bypass. This would make the existing A269 exit much quieter.

*All proposals for St. Mary's Lane must address excessive speed/vehicle size.

We favour Option 1. Bramble Cottage/The Spinney are omitted-these properties and the field between would fulfil the requirements of maintaining a land buffer & help fulfil housing quotas.

Full text:

As residents of St. Mary's Lane my wife and I have considerable concern over the effect of traffic on this country lane. In the last few years traffic on St. Mary's Lane has increased markedly and it is now, as mentioned in the draft document, a 'rat run'. In addition the existing access onto/from the A269 at the North end of the lane is dangerous and resulted in a number of quite serious accidents. There are also frequent minor accidents on the 's' bend which are not reported to the police. More traffic generated by the new Sidley bypass will only exacerbate this problem.

We have several suggestions to make:-

* Do not have any new access on to St. Mary's Lane from any new development.

* Build a new section of road between the lane, to the north of the recreation ground (before the s-bend), cutting across the strip of land south and east of Little Bersden and meeting the A269 south east of the new Sidley bypass. The north facing hill, which is already heavily wooded, is an adequate "woodland buffer". This would make the existing exit on to the A269 much quieter and used only by immediate residents. New roads within the new housing development can feed onto this new section of road.

* All and every proposal for St. Mary's Lane must address the twin problems of excessive speed and vehicle size. At present nearly every commercial vehicle using the lane is over the width limit. Most cars and lorries exceed the speed limit. There is no provision for countering these abuses. One assumes cameras and traffic calming measures can be introduced but these will be of no use if they are not policed.

With regard to the requirements of Policy BEX3 we would favour Option 1 (ret. BX124). However, we are at a loss to understand the omission of the 2 properties to the west of St.Mary's Lane - Bramble Cottage and The Spinney. These two properties and the field between them have a natural boundary on their western boundary which would fulfil the requirements of maintaining a land buffer with Lunsford Cross just as well as the present proposal but help the council fulfil it's housing quota.

We would like the council to give these comments serious consideration. We are directly affected by these proposals and a minor change to option 1 boundary would help us but not affect the council's desired buffer zone.

Comment

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

Representation ID: 23125

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Town and Country Planning Solutions

Representation Summary:

The development boundary should be amended to include assessed site BX50 (Appendix - page 370) as current planning application no. RR/2016/3206/P demonstrates that this land is suitable and achievable to accommodate approximately 30 additional dwellings. The site should theref0re, be the subject of a new site allocation policy.

Full text:

The development boundary should be amended to include assessed site BX50 (Appendix - page 370) as current planning application no. RR/2016/3206/P demonstrates that this land is suitable and achievable to accommodate approximately 30 additional dwellings. The site should theref0re, be the subject of a new site allocation policy.

Comment

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

Representation ID: 23158

Received: 13/02/2017

Respondent: Ms D Gardner

Agent: Murphy Associates

Representation Summary:

The Bexhill Development Boundary should reflect Preferred Options for BX124 and comments on Preferred Options 1 and 2. Figure 55 should extend the DB further to the west of St Mary's Lane, to the northern boundary of The Spinney, southwards including the field and nearest dwelling. Land between St Mary's Lane and A269 should follow the northern boundary of the Semi Ancient Woodland.

This provides clear containment a natural edge to the Urban Fringe; protection of Semi Ancient Woodland; access to a greater area of Proposed 'Natural' Open Space; reinforces the characteristics of the area in a robust holistic manner.

Full text:


Murphy Associates has been appointed to submit a representation to the Development and Site Allocations Local Plan (DaSA) and for this to be given due weight and consideration in the review of site allocations. Ultimately my client would expect a positive outcome of the representations and for the 'Submission Version' of the Plan to reflect this by including the identified site within the
Allocations for North Bexhill Area.

It is recognized that the Rother District has difficulty in providing a sufficient supply of land to meet the required 5-yr supply and an appropriate buffer, be that 5% or 20%, depending on performance and delivery. The District is constrained by the sea, High Weald AONB, the SSSI and Ramsar Site of the Pevensey Levels but also infrastructure.

The Bexhill Link Road may have provided improved accessibility to the main route network but the DASA indicates a greater amount of new roads and links that will effectively release land for development.

Whilst my client does not object to the general requirements of Policy BEX2, I would advise that the tentative support also includes an objection to the omission of land to the west side of St Mary's Lane.

Figures 23, 24 and 25 depict Preferred Options 1, 2 and 3 for the North Bexhill Area (BX124) along with significant road improvements. An area is shown with the triangle formed by St Mary's Lane and the A269 with a proposed allocation for housing. That area of land is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and although previously or currently used for agriculture, is still
considered to be suitable for a large quantum of residential development and associated infrastructure.

The future development of this triangular area will bring The Spinney and the nearest dwelling to the south, closer to, and abutting the new urban edge that would be created.

However, it is inconceivable the all traffic generated by future development would only use the A269. St Mary's Lane which is already used as a local 'rat-run' would see a significant increase in traffic, particularly by those travelling west - east thereby reducing travel along Turkey Road to reach the A269 Ninfield Road junction.

St. Marys Lane is narrow, has a width restriction in place and within a 30 mile per hour zone, both of which are completely ignored. Within the northern half of the road, beyond the recreational ground, there are numerous places where the width does not allow 2 cars to pass. The road is prone to flooding and subsidence due to significant traffic movement. An increase in traffic movement will undoubtedly result in the lane requiring improvement, particularly if one considers a new proposed access from the lane, along my client's southern boundary, to serve additional
housing land to the north west.

With any of the options, there will be a change in character and appearance of the lane. It will no longer read as semi-rural lane but a suburban distributor road and even more so with Option 3. We recognize the concerns regarding Option 3 but note that this would enable Rother District Council to increase its ability to meet it housing shortfall and 5-yr housing land supply as obliged to do so.

Nevertheless, and whilst improvement of the lane is welcomed by my client, on her behalf, we object to the indication in Option 3, that the land upon which her dwelling, the associated ancillary building and the garden area, is indicated 'Proposed Open Space, with Enhanced Green Space'.

Moving forward with positivity, although Option 1 is the LPA's Preferred Option, my client would support Option 1 or 2, subject to the following revisions:

* a new access formed onto St Mary's Lane to serve the residential development envisaged to the east side
* the improvement of the lane
* inclusion of land occupied by The Spinney, and the dwelling to the south including the intervening field.

In justifying this, the land designations in this area are noted, including the High Weald AONB and the Semi-Ancient Woodland to the north, further to the south west and south. However, the site of The Spinney is already developed. It is considered to be previously developed land as recognized by the NPPF in its definition of brownland. This opinion has been reinforced in the judgment of Dartford BC v SSCLG [2016] EWHC 635. It is inconceivable to consider that the LPA would seek
the demolition of two existing dwellings to facilitate the provision of natural open space as well as a link road through to lands to the north west.

These amendments would provide a clear containment demarcated by existing property and field boundaries, creating a natural edge to the proposed extension of the Built Up Area or Urban Fringe. It would afford protection to the Semi Ancient Woodland and access through to a greater area of Proposed 'Natural' Open Space, even if by way of new pedestrian links.

This specific area, including my client's land and that to the south, provides an opportunity for a holistic development of the area, with greater opportunities to evolve a masterplan incorporating a more comprehensive strategy for green space and green networks in a meaningful manner to reinforce the characteristics of the area.

The Spinney, the property to the south and the intervening land would provide the opportunity for a sensitive residential development aligned with the Key Opportunities as set out on page 147 - 148 that have been identified for both existing and new residents.


Question 46:
Due to the responses above, we consider that the Bexhill Development Boundary should change to reflect the Preferred Options for BX124 and the comments made in respect of Preferred Options 1 and 2. Therefore Figure 55 should seek to extend the Development Boundary further to west of St Mary's Lane, up to the northern boundary of the current plot of The Spinney, southwards to accommodation the nearest dwelling. The land between the triangular area of land, between St Mary's Road and the A269 should follow the northern boundary of the Semi Ancient Woodland.

Please note that my client recognises the difficulties for a constrained District such as Rother and the pressures that this places on existing land availability. It is also recognised that a balance needs to be struck between the development needs and protecting the designated rural environment.

Comment

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

Representation ID: 23555

Received: 20/02/2017

Respondent: East Sussex County Council

Representation Summary:

Landscape

BEXHILL Page 128

Yes to all Bexhill development polices

Full text:

Landscape

BEXHILL Page 128

Yes to all Bexhill development polices

Comment

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

Representation ID: 23631

Received: 20/02/2017

Respondent: East Sussex County Council

Representation Summary:

Archaeology

BEXHILL Page 128

Development boundary

Any additional development areas have a high archaeological potential and should be subject to archaeological assessment to clarify risk
-AMBER

Full text:

Archaeology

Please note that for most answers in this section a Red, Amber or Green rating has been assigned. In providing these responses, regard has been had to paragraph 169 of the NPPF. We are of the view that in order to satisfy this part of the NPPF, some of the proposed site allocations should be subject to archaeological assessment prior to the Pre-Submission version of the DaSA being published - these particular sites are identified below. For all the proposed allocations there will be a requirement for the subsequent planning applications to satisfy paragraph 128 of the NPPF.

BEXHILL Page 128

Development boundary

Any additional development areas have a high archaeological potential and should be subject to archaeological assessment to clarify risk
-AMBER

Comment

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

Representation ID: 23728

Received: 20/02/2017

Respondent: East Sussex County Council

Representation Summary:

Ecology

BEXHILL Page 128

Yes

Full text:

Ecology

BEXHILL Page 128

Yes