Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 24708
Received: 28/05/2024
Respondent: Mr Doug Edworthy
The ways of achieving Spatial Objective 2 should include steps to avoid the adverse effects of artificial light at night.
The ways of achieving Spatial Objective 2 should include steps to avoid the adverse effects of artificial light at night.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 24954
Received: 02/07/2024
Respondent: Mrs Margaret Burnett
It is essential to ensure that all new homes and businesses be built using the best possible levels of insulation and energy reduction methods. Plenty of trees is an old-fashioned but still very effective measure of carbon capture, so allow for this to be included plentifully.
Walking and cycling would be perfect but is not always a viable option for people, so better use of smaller buses
would be of use. Better and more regular public transport for rural areas may well help with decreasing the reliance on car travel. Adequate provision of school transport and routes to shops, doctors and hospitals would also help reduce car use and resultant pollution.
It is essential to ensure that all new homes and businesses be built using the best possible levels of insulation and energy reduction methods. Plenty of trees is an old-fashioned but still very effective measure of carbon capture, so allow for this to be included plentifully.
Walking and cycling would be perfect but is not always a viable option for people, so better use of smaller buses
would be of use. Better and more regular public transport for rural areas may well help with decreasing the reliance on car travel. Adequate provision of school transport and routes to shops, doctors and hospitals would also help reduce car use and resultant pollution.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 25087
Received: 09/07/2024
Respondent: Brightling Parish Council
Whilst largely supported, the Spatial Objectives are not specific or clear enough therefore leaving open the risk of interpretation from developers. The HW National Landscape, and associated Design Guide specifications, should be adhered to, rather than referred to. The Spatial Objectives focus, understandably, on new developments, but there is not sufficient reference to alterations or extensions - the likes of which constitute the overwhelming majority of development in parishes, such as Brightling.
Spatial objective 2 - We support this but it is not strong enough. As written, it sounds like support in a broad way but not in detail - but when it comes to the HW Landscape, the devil is often in the detail. There should be a specific requirement to comply with the specifications in the Design Guide.
Spatial objective 3 - It should be made clear that this objective applies to alterations and extensions to existing buildings etc equally as much as to completely new buildings (in a parish such as Brightling with no housing or employment growth planned, most development takes the form of alterations and extensions).
Spatial objective 4 - The term “net zero carbon ready” is used but this term does not appear to be defined. We fear this could be a loophole allowing developments that are not in fact zero carbon but which the developers claim could become net zero in the future. This could make the policy largely ineffective.
Spatial objective 9 - In a parish such as Brightling with no housing or employment growth planned, most development takes the form of alterations and extensions. There is a tendency, over a period of time, for the smaller houses to become larger houses, thus diminishing the availability of smaller houses. The vision of "mixed communities" (which we support) means that proposals to enlarge a residential dwelling may have to be refused, because of the damage to the social mix. This should be spelled out clearly.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 25219
Received: 11/07/2024
Respondent: Miss Janet Moore
These objectives appear to contradict the proposed development BAT0014 and the Blackfriars development.
These objectives appear to contradict the proposed development BAT0014 and the Blackfriars development.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 25473
Received: 16/07/2024
Respondent: Ms Isabel Lloyd
The High Weald National Landscape Design Guide specifications should be followed, not just "referred to".
The High Weald National Landscape Design Guide specifications should be followed, not just "referred to".
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 25837
Received: 22/07/2024
Respondent: Justin Walker
It would be helpful to have better links to acronym meanings eg HBC (as in Wikipedia) and external documents such as the Settlement Study, especially where the names is not the same as the official title.
It would be helpful to have better links to acronym meanings eg HBC (as in Wikipedia) and external documents such as the Settlement Study, especially where the names is not the same as the official title.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 26010
Received: 23/07/2024
Respondent: Mrs Anne Newson
There should be reference to reducing light pollution as part of the response to net zero carbon targets. Also, recognition of the ongoing Dark Skies Initiatives project which is seeking to achieve International Dark Skies Reserve status for more than 8 rural parishes. Protection and improvement of dark skies must be included.
There should be reference to reducing light pollution as part of the response to net zero carbon targets. Also, recognition of the ongoing Dark Skies Initiatives project which is seeking to achieve International Dark Skies Reserve status for more than 8 rural parishes. Protection and improvement of dark skies must be included.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 26055
Received: 23/07/2024
Respondent: Miss Nicky Bishop
Item 1 includes the caveat "whilst still making development viable." It's important that such wording doesn't get used by developers to wriggle out of commitments to net zero carbon, sustainability, infrastructure, or affordability on the grounds that the development would not be viable. It's up to developers to change their ways whilst remaining just as viable (euphemism for 'profitable') as they were before; it can be done, all the solutions exist already, so developers just need to get on with it. Rother's plan should not be handing them a massive loop-hole.
Item 4 refers to "zero carbon ready dwellings". 'Ready' is another loophole allowing developers to provide homes that are not actually zero carbon. It's much clearer to insist on "zero carbon dwellings": developers will know where they stand if they want to build in Rother and will thus be encouraged to adapt their methods accordingly.
Item 1 includes the caveat "whilst still making development viable." It's important that such wording doesn't get used by developers to wriggle out of commitments to net zero carbon, sustainability, infrastructure, or affordability on the grounds that the development would not be viable. It's up to developers to change their ways whilst remaining just as viable (euphemism for 'profitable') as they were before; it can be done, all the solutions exist already, so developers just need to get on with it. Rother's plan should not be handing them a massive loop-hole.
Item 4 refers to "zero carbon ready dwellings". 'Ready' is another loophole allowing developers to provide homes that are not actually zero carbon. It's much clearer to insist on "zero carbon dwellings": developers will know where they stand if they want to build in Rother and will thus be encouraged to adapt their methods accordingly.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 26058
Received: 23/07/2024
Respondent: Miss Nicky Bishop
Item 1. Very good indeed that you specifically mention community-led renewable energy schemes.
Item 1. Very good indeed that you specifically mention community-led renewable energy schemes.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 28122
Received: 22/07/2024
Respondent: East Sussex County Council
Figure 6: Rother Local Plan Strategic Spatial Objectives, No. 6, p26; - The concept of a Cultural Opportunity Zone could be explored and would be welcomed. The concept has been developed by the South East Creative Economy Network (SECEN) and informed by the SECEN Framework for Creative Open Workspace in line with this objective. See also ECO2
Please see attached submitted document for full comments.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 28152
Received: 22/07/2024
Respondent: East Sussex County Council
Spatial Objective 1, p26; it is suggested that Spatial Objective 1 should include:
*Mitigate the effects of climate change on population health.*
Please see attached submitted document for full comments.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 28153
Received: 22/07/2024
Respondent: East Sussex County Council
Spatial Objective 8, p28; It is suggested that Spatial Objective 8 should include:
‘Enhance the sustainability and connectivity of local communities through *active and* sustainable transport measures…’
Please see attached submitted document for full comments.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 28154
Received: 22/07/2024
Respondent: East Sussex County Council
Spatial Objective 9, p28; We fully support and welcome this objective and the elevation of health matters within the Loal Plan. We also welcome the reference to working with the Public Health Healthy Places team to develop planning policies.
Please see attached submitted document for full comments.
Comment
Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 28294
Received: 23/07/2024
Respondent: Natural England
Plan- Making for Biodiversity in the Climate Emergency
Given the severity of the decline in biodiversity and the climate change emergency, local plans have
a key role to play in planning for resilience, forecasting, and making space for nature to adapt to a
changing climate. Plans should seize the opportunity to help to reverse this decline through
ambitious and integrated plan-making which demonstrably avoids and minimises impacts and seeks
all opportunities to help reverse the biodiversity decline. Plans must adopt a strategic approach
through multifunctional green infrastructure provision and nature recovery networks. To this end, we
welcome the incorporation of green and blue infrastructure provision within both your 'Health and
Wellbeing' and 'Environmental Management' policies. In particular, we welcome the embedding of
Natural England's GIF within some of the policies but would recommend further use, both within
policies and within the related Monitoring Framework measures (see below for more detailed
advice).
Full submission as attached.