Comment

Representation ID: 24919

Received: 26/06/2024

Respondent: Mrs Susan Rochefort

- BEX0050

My concern is the infrastructure* as well as the traffic coming onto Barnhorn Road.
* Meaning doctors, school capacity, sewers, etc...

- BEX0159

Same objections as above. Too many houses in the same area - overdeveloped. Even if the doctors surgery moved to Rosewood, it leaves all of Little Common stranded fr L/C patients.

Comment

Representation ID: 24927

Received: 28/06/2024

Respondent: Mr Paul MILLER

Ref Map Bex 0156 Broadoak Park and the parcel of land Bex 0161.
Could these two parcels of land be combined, physically (perhaps opened up to the new development at Bex 0116) to provide a 'Green Park' area stretching down to Little Common. This amenity would be open to all the local residents and community providing a first class Park area.
This proposal supports the 'Green to the Core' and 'Live Well Locally' objectives at minimum cost.

Comment

Representation ID: 25273

Received: 30/06/2024

Respondent: Mrs Yvonne Cope

BEX0158

Nearby to Ancient Woodland, Priority Habitat and a Local Wildlife Site.

Flood issues and building properties on the site mean this water would have to find some where to go – probably into the properties on Pages Lane who already get some flooding.

A more suitable use for this land would be the creation of a green area with a pond which might alleviate local flooding.

If eventually developed for housing, the same conditions should apply as applied to the properties at the end of Pages Lane - 2 storeys high and in the same character as the properties surrounding the site. Consequently, I do not believe that the site is large enough for 25 properties.

Due to the line of large trees on the Pages Lane side of the site, the entrance to the site should be from The Barnhams.

Comment

Representation ID: 25278

Received: 12/07/2024

Respondent: Forte Developments Ltd

Agent: ADP

BEX0072

Please see attached representation.

Comment

Representation ID: 25294

Received: 12/07/2024

Respondent: Sussex Ornithological Society

Please see attached representation.

Comment

Representation ID: 25549

Received: 18/07/2024

Respondent: Mr Simon Waters

To develop the fields south of Barnhorn Road is utter madness, the traffic at present is horrendous let alone the environmental disaster ripping up the fields. I object in the strongest terms. The impact on all the residents cannot be fair either.

Comment

Representation ID: 25575

Received: 18/07/2024

Respondent: Mrs Cara Champ

We are a glamping business and our cabins look out towards the sea, this will completely destroy our business, how can 340 dwellings even be a consideration. it will heavily impact all local residents on so many levels.
I strongly object to this monstrous idea!

Comment

Representation ID: 25655

Received: 21/07/2024

Respondent: Mr George Champ

Ref: Bexhill 0050
We live on Barnhorn Road and have already faced various developments of one form or another. The road itself was and is not suitable for recent developments and is absolutely not suitable for it to serve an additional 350 houses. How it can be considered to build on this marsh land, home to all manner of wildlife, is unthinkable. I see no benefit other than to the landowner and developers filling their pockets.

Comment

Representation ID: 25781

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Mrs Jacqueline Himves

Objection to any planning permission being granted on land at Coneyburrow Lane/ Barnhorn Road.
A area grossly over planned with current construction taking place next to Ashridge N/H, 2 peoperties in Sandhurst Lane , Beech Farm and stage 2/3 of Rosewood Park.
The site is unsuitable as there is a 20% gradient on the field. One must consider sewage and overflow disposal to be an enormous factor should an estate be built .
Barnhorn Road does not have the infrastructure to cope with any further development.
This is an ancient meadow and is on the boundary of an SSSI/RAMSAR site and of National history and interest.
This land was rejected by RDC in 2022 as being an unsuitable as building land
and should remain so.
There are many protected species of flora and fauna in the area that will be affected should this site be used as building land.

Comment

Representation ID: 26060

Received: 21/07/2024

Respondent: Michael O'Dell

I object to any development for housing of the farmland and natural habitat in BEX0050, BEX0006, and BEX0016. This farmland should be farmed as it has been for centuries. Development here damages natural habitat, ancient woodland, historic pathways and also historic sites. This will ruin the land for wildlife including the black and white animals on four legs that live here.

Risk of contamination to the Pevensey Levels alone should bring an instant rejection from the local authority but for years the developers value profit over this and continue to apply to build. These areas are on the side of a hill and will flood if levelled out for housing, this will risk contamination of the Pevensey Levels. The pumping station failed at Cooden Beach recently flooding the area.

There is also inadequate infrastructure in the area, roads, schools, medical services, utilities and community facilities.

Comment

Representation ID: 26118

Received: 21/07/2024

Respondent: Mrs Valerie Watts

Have any of you people looked at this proposed development through a pair of spectacles?
Meads road is a narrow residential road with parking on one side during seven days a week making it a chacane driving to Spindlewood drive andmaple avenue. Spindlewood where l live is a cul de sac residential side road not the M25 you must be mad even considering it !!!

Comment

Representation ID: 26162

Received: 21/07/2024

Respondent: Mr JOHN LOTT

I wish to raise objections to the development at Spindlewood: They are:
a. it risks harming and impacting detrimentally and permanently the environment, flora and fauna of the Levels.
b. There is no existing infrastructure, particularly water supply and drainage/sewerage.
c. There is risky and dangerous access to/from and on the A259
d. At the communal level there are insufficient:
(1) G.P.s;
(2) Schools and available places.

Comment

Representation ID: 26174

Received: 20/07/2024

Respondent: Ms June Levell

BEX 0050
Living so close to this site we can observe the diversity of wild life. It had been a productive dairy farm up until last year . It is being used for hay at present.
There is a large pond home to great crested newts. Moorhens nest here. Slowworms and grass snakes and frogs and toads are beginning to come back, pheasants and foxes. Barn owls and numerous bats are seen at dusk.
The adjacent ancient woodland is a roost for large colony of jackdaws and home to woodpeckers and many small birds. We have seen Kestrels, Sparrow hawks and Red Kites. Cuckoo is heard every Spring and this year a Nightingale was heard. We have photos of most of these.
Old Town field dates back to 1305 and was then called Oldeton it is said to be the medieval village of Barnhorn and should be preserved.
The ancient Barnhorn Manor is close .
Any development near the Pevensey Levels would devastate the surrounding habitat and should be preserved .

Comment

Representation ID: 26197

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Carmen Soto-Pollock

Ref: BEX0158 Land West of Pages Lane, Bexhill on Sea

I am writing to object to the proposal to build 25 houses on the land next to Pages Lane and The Barnhams, currently accommodating electronic communication devises.

We are disappointed that this proposal has not been communicated to us. We only found out about this proposal through a neighbour. I have searched the RDC website and I can not see any mention of it.

On this land there are many animals. The animals we have seen on this land include Foxes, Bats, Squirrels, Rabbits, Door Mice and many birds including Wood Peckers, Blackbirds, Jay birds, Magpies, Blue Tits, Owls, Robins and many others. We consider this land to be a nature reserve.

There are also many mature trees along the edge of this piece of land that have many birds nests in them.

Comment

Representation ID: 26221

Received: 20/07/2024

Respondent: Ms Frances Howard-Brown

As a long time resident in Barnhorn Road I wish to comment on the Local plan, specifically the area BEX0050.
As stated in the document Rother is committed to be Green To The Core. Using the land behind the houses south of Barnhorn Road for, and I quote the document ‘’ a significant residential led, mixed use development’’ would certainly not fulfill the Green To The Core initiative. This is farm land which has been in constant use as such for a very long time. It contains ancient trees, and habitats which sustain a wide range of species. If future generations are to continue to connect and have access to the natural world close to Bexhill this area should remain as it is.

Furthermore the infrastructure in the road is already unfit for purpose. On numerous occasions, and with increasing regularity over the last few years I have had to call Southern Water to come out and clean my front garden and main path to the front door of raw sewage. This usually happens after heavy rain when the main sewer is unable to cope. With five care homes in the immediate area, some with plans to extend their capacity, and 30+ dwellings being erected right now next to Ashridge Place the problem is likely to become an even greater issue in the future without the addition of further building.

Thirdly the A259 is congested. With no immediate access to the site already in place creating access roads would only add to the problem. Numerous accidents on the road often mean closure for some hours. There are no suitable alternative routes in the area. Air pollution is already an issue due to the heavy traffic load.

Whilst I fully understand the need for more housing in Rother using green belt, agricultural land which has ancient footpaths, listed buildings and is a biodiverse habitat seems to be the exact opposite of Rother’s priorities in regard to being Green To The Core and Live Well Locally. Without a thorough overall of the existing infrastructure further development in this area would only create more problems to residents already living here. Finally, with the proximity of Pevensey Levels, any development nearby would only impact more the fragile nature of this SSSI and SAC site.

Comment

Representation ID: 26368

Received: 21/07/2024

Respondent: Mr Joseph Apicella

We object to the inclusion of Site BEX0050 in the Draft RDC Plan as a potential site for development for the following reasons.

Green field site. There is a need for the country to feed itself, this is prime agricultural land which has been used for many years to sustain dairy cattle. The more prime land that is converted to housing the more foodstuff the country has to import. This area is still a viable farm. The land in question is still viable farm land; only this week (July 18th) the farmer has been cutting grass and turning it into Silage to feed livestock. Milking is currently not taking place on site because the Farmer chose to knock his own milking sheds down and move his cattle off site.
Wild Life The fields in question are adjacent to some ancient woodland. These are home to a wide variety of wild life including Hedgehogs, Foxes, Shrews and Field mice. These mammals need the open ground to hunt in. The open pasture land, used for many years for dairy cattle, is perfect for their needs. For hundreds of years these different species have coexisted in perfect harmony. Turning the fields into housing stock will upset this delicate balance between natural habitat and domestic cattle, and more of our natural wildlife will die off.
This spring 2024, we have seen, heard and recorded a Nightingale which has nested in these fields for the first time since 2013. The Nightingale is on the RSPB’s red list of endangered birds and is scarce in the UK. The Nightingale needs open scrub land and the loss of this habitat reduces the chance of this species’ survival.
Every spring we always hear a Cuckoo, a bird that does not populate all parts of East Sussex. Like the Nightingale the Cuckoo likes dense scrubland and is also on the RSPB Red list.
Both the Cuckoo and the Nightingale, as well as being on RSPB red list of endangered species, migrate to west Africa in winter. Developments here in the UK will have a detrimental knock-on effect across the world. We are all custodians of the whole world, and we all have a responsibility to maintain the whole planet. A farmer making a “quick buck” by selling land in Bexhill to a building developer, will have a detrimental effect on the ecology of the planet.

Buzzards use this area for hunting, and the loss of the green habitat will mean the loss of this beautiful raptor. Occasionally we are beginning to see red kites in the area. Loss of this green land will reduce the chance of them repopulating the Pevensey levels. Barn Owls are also frequently seen and heard here.
This area contains an ancient pond, home to Great Crested newts, which we have photographed, lizards, grass snakes, frogs and toads. Many of these species help keep down a wide range of pests. As soon as you remove such habitat, and feeding grounds, you upset the fine natural balance, and many of these species are lost; consequently you get a rampant increase in the pests that they prey on. These small mammals and reptiles are all preyed upon by the birds of prey mentioned above.
Rother’s site assessment claims “Biodiversity Net gain”. If farmland is turned into housing there will be a Biodiversity NET LOSS.
Trees This site contains many ancient trees. The more trees we cut down the more we contribute to global warming.
Specific Areas of Conservation and Sites of Special Scientific interest.
As these are adjacent to the Pevensey levels, (SAC and SSSI). Wildlife migrates across this whole area. Development of this area would have a severe impact on the Pevensey levels.
Infrastructure (Water and sewage) The current sewage pipe serving Barnhorn Road was constructed in about 1950. It is 9 inches in diameter. It was suitable for the amount of houses in Barnhorn Rd built at that time. Since then, there have been many additional developments. This pipe is now not coping with the sewage that it is being asked to transport. Consequently, during peaks of bad weather raw sewage is pumped onto residents’ gardens. Further developments south of Barnhorn Rd would make this situation worse. The current wastewater facilities are being pushed to capacity. They cope with average conditions but fail frequently. Recently damage was done to the pumping station near Cooden Beach. The system failed and Cooden Beach was flooded. More development will put more pressure on the system and flooding will occur more often.



Infrastructure (Road and pedestrian links) A development south of Barnhorn Rd would not improve or provide an enhanced cycle route into Little common. This is rubbish. Cycle lanes do not link up or continue far enough, this has been confirmed by Planning inspectors.
The cumulative effect of all the many developments along the A259 is causing much congestion. There should not be further developments until a bypass has been built.
There is currently no suitable access from this farm land onto the A259. Nor is there a suitable lead in from the development near Clavering Walk. If a lead in was found then it would give further congestion onto the already overloaded A259, and slow down this major trunk road.

Balanced community. Building just houses without the additional shops, schools and doctors’ surgeries etc might make a profit for the land owners and property developers, and satisfy Rother’s housing quotas, but it does not build a stable balanced community.

Listed buildings This site contains two ancient barns constructed of cobblestones typical to the Bexhill area. They are grade II listed buildings and need to be preserved.


Tourism The farmland concerned currently contains a caravan site with about 40 caravans on it. Throughout the summer this is full of holiday makers which brings revenue into the area especially within aspects of local hospitality and would have an impact on Bexhill as a whole.
Foot paths There are several ancient footpaths in this area which need to be preserved. The loss of access to the countryside and public footpaths reduces the quality of life of Rother’s residence and tourists. From these foot paths there are magnificent views of the countryside leading down to the sea. The coastline of Sussex is noted for its stunning views of the sea. This special area of natural beauty needs to be preserved. Its loss would be bad for the area, bad for tourists and day trippers and bad for residence. Its loss would have a knock on effect on revenue brought into Bexhill shops and businesses.

Flooding This area includes land that is in risk of flooding. Also, it acts as a sponge which absorbs and holds water reducing the risk of flooding in lower ground on the Pevensey levels (Hydrological Catchment).
In heavy rain the ground south of Barnhorn Rd can partially act like a sponge and can soak up water. If it were built on, without this sponge like action, it would increase the risk of flooding in other parts of the Pevensey levels.
If it is developed into a housing development it would cause greater risk of flooding on the Pevensey levels below. Many of the houses in Barnhorn Rd have had grass banks constructed at the ends of their gardens. These are to protect our gardens against flooding. The fields South of Barnhorn Rd are at risk of flooding.

Access to main roads. This site at present has no road link to the A 259. To access a road link, housing stock would need to be obtained and demolished. The A 259 currently experiences much congestion and more local traffic would increase congestion.

Compounding damage caused by existing developments.
There has already been granted, substantial development in this area.
(570 housing units plus a 72 bed Care Home, approved substantial medical facility and 2,015msq of light industrial in the Bexhill West/Cooden areas. There is also a current pending application for up to 340 dwellings North, and an extension of, the recent Rosewood Park development).
Granting permission for further developments would build on the damage that has already been caused to this area, and cause devastating damage to the Pevensey levels.

The recent development at Rosewood Park, required a new set of traffic lights. If the BEX0050 site, which would be larger, was developed, a second set of traffic lights would be needed within a distance of about 500 Meters from the first set. This would cause greater congestion on the already overburdened A259.

Recent Government statements on the need for increased housing provision state also that it should only be considered if the required infrastructure is available or to be provided. The infrastructure is not there.

In the past few days (the week of July 19th) a device counting traffic on the A259 has been placed outside 123 Barnhorn Rd, just as the schools are breaking up for the summer. Depending on how long it is left in place, it may only give a false reading, not taking into account school related traffic.

I totally oppose all development South of Barnhorn Rd as such a development would cause serious harm to the Pevensey levels in perpetuity, and I urge members of Rother council to agree with me.

Comment

Representation ID: 26493

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Mr David Allen

Comments on HELAA
PART 2: SITE ASSESSMENTS
CHAPTER 1 Bexhill West

Specifically BEX 0050 and BEX 0159
Existing planning applications in this area have run into a number of difficulties. These include putting the Pevensey Levels at risk through inadequate drainage proposals, inability to provide safe and legal access onto the A329 trunk road and attempting to connect to a sewage system with inadequate capacity. There are also capacity issues with Little Common Medical facilities and school capacity. To propose a further 590 dwellings in this area is absolute folly and these should be deleted as possible development sites.

Comment

Representation ID: 26505

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Mr Peter Gooch

I object to the inclusion of Site BEX0050 in the Draft RDC Plan as a potential site for development.

Page 45 of Part 2 of the Draft HELAA document shows the significant Summary of Environmental Constraints as regards ancient woodland, priority habitats and flood risk. These areas are already under considerable additional strain by recent and approved developments of more than 570 housing units plus a 72 bed Care Home, substantial medical facility and 2,015msq of light industrial units in the Bexhill West/Cooden areas. There is also a current pending application for up to 340 dwellings to the North, and an extension of, the recent Rosewood Park development.
The site assessment for BEX0050 shows alleged potential for a further 340 dwellings and 4,000msq (the equivalent single-storey footprint of at least 40 homes) employment space. The Assessment describes the possibility of significant mixed-use development and mentions constraints for vehicular access, impact on capacity of the A259 and potential impacts on the Pevensey Levels Ramsar, SAC and SSSI. In addition, there are the concerns over flood risk, existing listed buildings, public footpaths and loss of the existing long established holiday caravan park. The Site Assessment also states “opportunity to improve pedestrian and cycle links towards Little Common” which is a dubious statement as those facilities already exist and it is difficult to imagine how further development to the South would improve this for the existing population. It goes on to claim opportunities for “on-site Biodiversity Net Gain” which again must be very subjective as existing substantial bio-diversity would be destroyed in the process. What it does not mention is the continuing loss of strategically important farmland.
Recent Government statements on the need for increased housing provision state also that it should only be considered, inter alia, if the required infrastructure is available or to be provided. As mentioned above, existing services are already under strain by way of traffic and drainage services. Development would require vehicular access onto Barnhorn Road. The topography of the site means It would likely require a pumped sewer facility via a new road connection into the main foul sewer in Barnhorn Road which is already subject to fairly regular overflow, seriously affecting property on the South side and must surely be at capacity. Site access is also a concern and the potential connection as shown to the “Spindlewood” development access to the A259 would be wholly inadequate for a proposal of this size. There would also be a substantial increase in strain on storm water disposal that would likely have a detrimental effect on lower-lying areas like Pevensey Levels caused by road infrastructure and housing/industrial footprint. The site itself currently helps alleviate potential flooding by water absorption over the 37 hectares of natural ground. The site is a part of the existing ex dairy farm that has now been systematically degraded in recent years to make way for substantial completed/approved/pending housing development. The Country needs farmland to make us less reliant on imports and, whilst this particular farm is no doubt no longer viable, there is an adjoining farm with a common boundary that this particular site could be attached to.

Comment

Representation ID: 26506

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Mr Kevin Long

As a resident of Barnhorn Road I have some major concerns that at least one of the proposed new areas of development to the south of Barnhorn Road (BEX0050) could have a devastating impact on mine and my neighbour’s quality of life.
A259/Barnhorn Road impact.
Existing proposed developments south of Barnhorn Road already represent a major problem for local inhabitants. BEX0050 is the very last straw and should not be allowed to become a reality
It would appear that there is no new suitable vehicle access point into the proposed BEX0050 site. It is probable therefore that the site will need to use the same entry/exit point as that proposed for the Spindlewood site to gain access to the A259 and Barnhorn Road. National Highways have previously stated that no additional vehicles should use this access/egress point without incurring a fundamental review on the impacts on the A259 trunk road. Clearly adding an additional c 340 dwellings onto this access point will have a major and significant impact on the access/egress to the A259. Indeed, the combined number of dwellings of the proposed Spindlewood and BEX0050 development would exceed the size of the Rosewood Park development that required a new set of traffic lights. The mind boggles as to the impact on the A259 if there were to be 2 sets of traffic lights within some 500 metres of each other.
Should the same access point be used for both developments, there would be a serious and negative impact on the rat run through the Spindlewood site with serious implications for Meads Road and access on to Cooden Sea Road.
The total lack of new infrastructure to mitigate the effects of new developments seems to be the normal if unforgivable situation.
Threat to the Pevensey Levels
BEX0050 shares the same level of concern as the Spindlewood and Clavering Walk developments in that the site is very close to the Levels and must therefore take mitigating measures to ensure that no harm can befall the Levels in perpetuity. Both Spindlewood and Clavering Walk developers are struggling to achieve this.
Lack of suitable Infrastructure
RDC make much play in their proposals to suggest that suitable infrastructure needs to be in place BEFORE any new developments proceed. We know however that this is almost never the case and that current infrastructure is already inadequate. A classic case in point is the size of the 9” sewer pipe running along Barnhorn Road that is deemed inadequate even by Southern Water (admitted via a recent Freedom of Information request). How on earth therefore can a proposed development of the size of BEX0050 – c340 dwellings – be connected to this pipe without very serious environmental damage? The same would apply, of course, to the proposed new development off Rosewood Park.
Lack of GPs in our area so how will adding at least an additional 680 or so new dwellings (combined BEX0050 and BEX01509) assist this situation?
There are also problems with suitable school places in and around Little Common and Bexhill.
Will there be sufficient clean water supplies available from SE Water?
I feel that the residents of Little Common have done their bit already in the requirement to increase the nation’s housing stock and it is now the turn of the districts in the area to take some of the strain.
We have Rosewood to the North of us and Spindag and Clavering Walk to the south of us not to mention Northeye.
The proposed new areas of development to the south of Barnhorn Road (BEX0050) would be the end of our local green space and a nail in our existential coffin and should not be allowed to be approved.

Comment

Representation ID: 26737

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Mrs Anne Andersen

BEX0006
I object to this on the grounds that this will be yet another estate coming on to the over busy A259. The proposed access to this site is just before a very bad bend, the other side of the bend there is frequently queueing traffic at the lights to the Rosewood Park estate. Also, I do not see how there can be a guarantee in perpetuity that the Pevensey Levels will not be damaged by water from impermeable drives, roads etc.

Comment

Representation ID: 26738

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Mrs Anne Andersen

BEX0016
I object to this on the grounds that it will bring yet more traffic onto the A259. Also the site is prone to flooding, putting great risk to damage to the Pevensey Levels from surface water and sewerage.

Comment

Representation ID: 27491

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Jennifer Evans

BEX0050

I am writing to object most strongly to the above location being used for yet another potential destruction of green fields for yet more housing,how on earth can this site even be considered ,anyone living on this stretch of the 259 know how congested it is now.
I will list the many reasons why this site is completely unsuitable and outrageous:
Threat to the Pevensey Levels
Lack of supporting infarastructure
A259 is the main route for Ambulances between Eastbourne and Hastings
Lack of GPS and Dentists
Southern Water have stated that the 9inch Sewer pipe on Barnhorn road is inadequate
with serious consequences to the Pevensey Levels should anything happen.
No clear access point other than the one that might be shared with the Spindlewood Development site and Highways England have previously stated that no other vehicles should use this access/egress point.
Will South east water be able to provide sufficient clean water
Lack of School places
How are people supposed to get to work,certainly not by bike or walking
Loss of even more green spaces where people can walk and actually breathe fresh air
Increase in pollution.
There is a clue in the name Little Common eventually there will not be any green spaces left ,we have a lot of wildlife in this area where will it all go we as residents deserve and need open spaces for our mental health.

Comment

Representation ID: 27672

Received: 25/07/2024

Respondent: Home Office

Agent: Avison Young

See attachments "2024-07-25 Response to Rother Local Plan Consultation covering letter Final_Public" and "2024 07 25 Full Consultation Form completed_Public" regarding comments on BEX0007: Land at Northeye.

Comment

Representation ID: 27861

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Mr Graham Edenborough

Agent: Rubix Estates

Please see full submission in attachments
Comments in support of development of HELAA site south of Barnhorn Road

Comment

Representation ID: 28139

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: East Sussex County Council

HELAA Part 2, Chapters 1-5; RDC should double check that presence/absence of ANA’s has not changed since these allocation sites were reviewed, as ANA boundaries are reviewed periodically. The East Sussex Historic Environment Record (HER) should be able to double check if any ANA boundaries have been revised, added or deleted in a given time period to assist with checking only the relevant sites. For example, two ANAs have been added in the Rother District in the two years preceding this representation. It is understood, however, that it is not practical to keep the HELAA continually updated so it should be made clear that the data is accurate at the date it was produced but ANA boundaries are subject to change.

Comment

Representation ID: 28238

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Mr & Mrs W & L Partridge

Developments: BEX0050; BEX0159; BEX0182;BEX0103; BEX0119; BEX0179; BEX0180; BEX0203; BEX0175;

Detrimental effect on the village of Little Common, Pevensey Levels, A259 (Barnhorn Rd section)

1 -Threat to Pevensey Levels. Potential of irreparable damage to protected Pevensey Levels, Ramsar, SSSI, SAC & ancient woodlands sites. The development of land involving the covering over of natural geology with impermeable materials and structures can reduce the amount of water being received and stored by the underlying geology. As a result, and without mitigation, there is an increase in the amount of overland flow, which means the amount of water being received in a shorter period of time creates greater volumes and velocities of water in the watercourses. Loss of vegetation in the catchment area of the Pevensey Levels would exacerbate this effect. The impact of development through the loss of permeability is dependant on the type of underlying geology and the topography.

2 - A259 congestion. creating high air pollution, safety issues to both walkers and cyclist.

3 - Lack of acceptable infrastructure

4 - Sewage system currently does not have compactly to deal with these developments

BEX0050 in particular (known as The Spindlewood Development) is simply not a suitable site for housing at this location. It would have major negative impact on Bexhill’s oldest recorded Historic site, possible irreparable adverse effects on the adjacent RAMSAR, SAC, SSSI & Ancient woodland site, as well as the overwhelming addition of traffic on Barnhorn Rd (A259) and the direct centre/heart of Little Common Village, with a real possibility of creating another accident ‘black spot’, not to mention, having a negative affect on the way people live, work travel and take leisure

Comment

Representation ID: 28293

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Wards of London

Agent: Paul Dickinson & Associates

Comments in support of BEX0032

I am writing on behalf of Wards of London, the landowners of former Sidley Sports
Ground, Glovers Lane, Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 5ER. The extent of their land is shown on
the attached plan.
The Regulation 18 Draft Version advises that it sets out a clear and evidenced policy
direction that the Council wishes to take in respect of key planning objectives.
Paragraph 1.40 explains that individual site allocation policies will form Chapter 13 in
due course, but this is not part of the Regulation 18 consultation because the Council
wants to consult on the development strategy and draft housing and economic land
availability assessment (HELAA) before final site selection and specific site allocation
policies are prepared. My comments are therefore made in that context.
You will be aware that the former Sidley Sports Ground site is allocated under Policy
BEX11 of the adopted DaSA (December 2019) for a full size 3G artificial grass pitch
(AGP) including floodlighting, ancillary changing facilities, a community hub and
associated open space.
However, the Council has recently reassessed the site (BEX0032) as part of its
consideration of the Draft HELAA April 2024 which forms an important part of the
evidence base to the emerging local plan. It notes that the site was previously the
sports ground of Sidley United Football Club but has been disused since around 2013,
so more than 10 years. It also notes that the landowner has indicated the site is
available for residential development, however, its current planning use remains as
open space as a sports field and an alternative use would be contrary to policy BEX11
and the NPPF which seeks to retain valued community facilities and services and guards against the loss of sports and recreational buildings and land unless they are
surplus to requirements or the loss would be replaced by equivalent or better provision
in terms of quantity and/or quality in a suitable location.
The Council’s assessment concludes that current evidence suggests the existing
allocation is unlikely to come forward but in principle the site is in a sustainable location
for housing. The assessment states that if the landowner were to provide a 3G pitch
and associated facilities in a suitable alternative location, then the site could potentially
be suitable for a mixed-use, to include residential development, a community use and
open space, subject to a change to adopted local plan policy.
The emerging local plan review provides such an opportunity to change the policy so
that the overall objectives relating to the provision of appropriate sport and recreation
facilities are still met but a positive and viable use for the site can be encouraged to
come forward rather than it remaining vacant and disused.
The landowners and their professional team, including myself, are in discussions with
Council officers and other stakeholders to seek agreement on a package which would
meet all the relevant policy objectives. This package is based on the provision of a fullsized 3G pitch with floodlighting and associated facilities at Bexhill Academy to the
west of the site. This would provide a significant enhancement and improvement to the
current sports pitch offer at the Academy both for its pupils and for the wider
community. This provision would then free up the site for residential-led development.
These discussions are at an advanced stage and we shortly intend to engage directly
with the Planning Policy team.
The HELAA indicates that the site would be suitable for a mixed-use including
residential development, a community use and open space. Clearly there are
questions around financial viability that need to be assessed in order to ensure that any
allocation is viable and there are realistic expectations of what can be funded by the
residential development. Discussions with Graeme Quinnell, the Council’s Housing
Enabling and Development Officer, have been on the basis of a 100% affordable
scheme. A feasibility exercise is being undertaken to determine the costs of the 3G
pitch and associated facilities. The development will also need to fund other
requirements such as biodiversity net gain and CIL where applicable whilst still provide
a commercial incentive for the landowner to bring forward proposals.
We would therefore welcome the opportunity to discuss a site allocation to be included
in the Regulation 19 plan for residential-led development on a viable scale together
with a requirement that the loss of the former playing field would be replaced by
equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and/or quality in a suitable location.