Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Comment

Representation ID: 19592

Received: 02/03/2009

Respondent: Evison & Company

There are acknowledged constraints on the ability of Bexhill and the market towns to absorb development. Some development will be required in villages to meet targets but also to allow them to contribute to the development of a more sustainable development in rural areas. This not only means development in rural service centres but selective growth in the smaller villages where this will support local services and modernisation of existing facilities. This may require more substantial releases of land on the edge of villages or redevelopment within existing boundaries that will permit the development of mixed communities with a range of house types and affordability and support the modernisation and improvement of run down and relatively deprived areas.

While Option 2 is supported in principle it should therefore be sufficiently flexible to allow greater growth in those villages more remote from the existing service centres which are in danger of becoming increasingly deprived and where services can only be effectively accessed by car owners.

Comment

Representation ID: 19593

Received: 02/03/2009

Respondent: Evison & Company

Some development will be required in villages to meet targets but also to allow them to contribute to the achievement of a more sustainable development pattern in rural areas. This not only means development in rural service centres but selective growth in the smaller villages where this will support local services and modernisation of existing facilities.

Confining the search to those areas with good existing linkages and accessibility risks an over concentration of development in areas with capacity and environmental constraints and a relative deprivation of rural areas where new development would contribute to criterion 'b' Contribution to 'building communities', including the potential to retain and improve key services. Some development will be needed in flood risk areas to avoid the stultification of existing communities in a district where a large proportion of its land area is at risk of flooding.

Comment

Representation ID: 19594

Received: 02/03/2009

Respondent: Evison & Company

The achievement of these objectives in particular 'b' will be dependant on new development coming forward to support them. For housing it will mean all of the measures i - vii including the carrying forward of local plan allocations but also some substantial additional allocations outside existing development boundaries in villages with more limited environmental development constraints. This should include smaller villages where there are opportunities not only to enhance sustainability but correct mistakes of the past through development or redevelopment. It must however be subject to a genuine integration into the community and the achievement of a traditional village character with a range of housing densities and tenure types and enhanced local facilities.

Comment

Representation ID: 19595

Received: 02/03/2009

Respondent: Evison & Company

Support
Paragraph 12.42 is supported.

In addition some development will be needed in flood risk areas to avoid the stultification of existing communities in a district where a large proportion of its land area is at risk of flooding.

In some defended locations such as Winchelsea Beach this will support regeneration objectives with important economic, social and sustainability gains. In this case in particular the relatively recent local plan allocation should be carried forward.