Core Strategy Issues & Options

Comment

Representation ID: 18659

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

The Core Strategy should not seek to address possible lower levels of growth, in view of the provisional nature of the South East Plan requirement, but ensure flexibility and housing land supply to meet higher growth levels. Lower growth levels would exacerbate the District’s affordability issue and promote the loss of working age population.

The Council should support higher growth levels to improve the internal sustainability of the District and its settlements.

Comment

Representation ID: 18660

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

The Council should robustly assess previously developed land. The redevelopment of brownfield land for housing can result in the loss of another use, often employment, with a significant effect on the District’s economy. The costs of brownfield land redevelopment can limit community benefits e.g. affordable housing.

PPS3 is clear that windfall sites should not form part of the Council’s housing land supply. Greenfield development will be required to meet housing requirements and the Core Strategy objectives. The Council must identify deliverable sites, avoiding including windfalls and commitments unless no other sites can be identified to meet the housing requirement.

Comment

Representation ID: 18661

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Croudace acknowledges that the coastal areas and rural areas of the District have different needs, and in effect, area specific policies should be developed to reflect this. However, whilst Croudace accepts that the Draft South East Plan has allocated two 'different housing requirements for the area, it is not considered that this requirement should be stringently applied and should be used as a suggested housing requirement rather than an absolute~ requirement. This approach would provide a more robust and proactive policy with sufficient flexibility to respond to any changes in the housing market. In addition, it would avoid the potential overheating of the market in the coastal belt whilst maintaining opportunities for sustained and appropriate growth in the rural areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 18662

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

In terms of Bexhill's development potential the key issue remains to be the delivery of the Link Road, which continues to be delayed despite assurances from East Sussex County Council. It is not considered that Bexhill can accommodate development without the Link Road and the delay has already led to a significant delay in the District's delivery of housing to meet the existing housing requirement. On this basis, whilst the Council appears to acknowledge this difficulty, the Core Strategy must ensure that sufficient flexibility is included to allow for a different approach to development at Bexhill should the Link Road not be delivered in sufficient time to allow for the delivery of the North Bexhill allocation by 2016 as currently envisaged.

Comment

Representation ID: 18663

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

It is considered that there is sufficient opportunity for brownfield development within Hastings town to avoid the need for development on its fringes which may detrimentally reduce the existing green gap between Hastings and Bexhill. In this respect, it is not considered appropriate for the Core Strategy to consider development in the fringes of Hastings, other than small scale infill development within the existing built up area.

Comment

Representation ID: 18664

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Despite the potential delays in the delivery of development at Bexhill due to the need for the Link Road, Croudace considers that Option 1 represents the most appropriate development option on the basis that Bexhill represents the most sustainable development location within the coastal area. Whilst there may be some development opportunities at Hastings, it is considered that significant constraints exist which would limit the quantum of development.

Comment

Representation ID: 18665

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

It is considered that Battle represents a constrained town where large development opportunities would have a significant impact upon the natural, built and historic environment. It is therefore considered that the current objectives set out in Policy BT1 of the Adopted Local Plan seeks to ensure that any new development does not adversely impact upon the characteristics of the village and that these objectives should be carried forward in the Core Strategy.

Comment

Representation ID: 18666

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

It is not considered that another development site of a similar scale proposed at Blackfriars could be found at Battle without having a negative impact upon the natural, historic and built environment. In this respect, Croudace considers that the Council should seek to limit small scale development within the confines of the existing built up area or immediately adjacent to it, to maintain the town's internal sustainability and vitality .

Comment

Representation ID: 18667

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

It is considered that the current objectives for Rye should be maintained and carried forward into the Core Strategy, on the basis that the town is physically constrained. However, in addition, it is considered that the Core Strategy should also include sufficient flexibility to allow for any changes in its physical constraints, e.g., flooding which may change during the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 18668

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Croudace acknowledges the importance of Rye as a small market town which serves a wider rural hinterland, and this respect supports its future growth. It is considered appropriate to maintain the current development option for the town albeit with a degree of flexibility to ensure that any changes in the town's physical constraints can be accommodated.