Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Support

Representation ID: 20280

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

We particularly welcome:
1. A commitment to provide 60, 000 sqm of new business floorspace
2. Suitable premises for small business units,
3. Major development at north east Bexhill.
4. A new vocational skills centre
5. Support for the Bexhill/Hastings Link Road
6. Improving accessibility through a potential new railway station in the Wilting area which could potentially improve local accessibility and links to London and the rest of the South East region.

SEEDA notes that feasibility studies are being considered for a possible rail station at Wilting which could benefit Bexhill and Hastings.

Support

Representation ID: 20284

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

SEEDA supports the preferred strategy for Bexhill to provide additional business and employment opportunities within the town as part of comprehensive mixed use developments and welcome the joint working approach to Employment and Land Strategy.

The RES identifies 9 priorities for the Coastal South East and considers that the preferred strategy for Bexhill town centre would go some way to achieving these targets.

Priorities 8 and 9 relate to the importance of improving skills and education attainment and therefore provide a new secondary school and vocational skills centre which complements Target 6 of the RES and provide support to college developments in Hastings.

Support

Representation ID: 20285

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

SEEDA welcomes the core strategy identifying the economic importance of tourism to the local economy and the importance of encouraging and supporting innovation and entrepreneurial activity. Priority 1 for the Rural South East is to 'invest in the economic viability of villages and market towns'. We thus support the overall objective to raise profile of Battle which complements Target 5 of the RES, to increase the business stock in the region.

Support

Representation ID: 20286

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

SEEDA welcomes the core strategy identifying the economic importance of tourism to the local economy and the importance of encouraging and supporting innovation and entrepreneurial activity. Priority 1 for the Rural South East is to 'invest in the economic viability of villages and market towns'. We thus support the overall objective to raise profile of Battle which complements Target 5 of the RES, to increase the business stock in the region.

Support

Representation ID: 20287

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

We support in particular the objective to improve the commercial viability of the Port of Rye by securing additional employment floorspace in the area, and facilitating additional port facilities around Rock Channel and Rye Harbour. Priority 5 for the Rural South East seeks to develop the visitor economy, we also therefore welcome the acknowledgement of the contribution that Green' tourism could make to the local economy.

Support

Representation ID: 20289

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

SEEDA welcomes the proposal to achieve an increase of employment land of approximately 10% of District total (10 000 sqm) to be in small workshops and office units alongside housing on mixed use sites where possible.

Comment

Representation ID: 20291

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

Suggest that home working which constitutes a high proportion of employment in the district, that ICT infrastructure improvements should be sought to facilitate and stimulate rural enterprise.

Comment

Representation ID: 20292

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

Suggest that home working which constitutes a high proportion of employment in the district, that ICT infrastructure improvements should be sought to facilitate and stimulate rural enterprise.

Support

Representation ID: 20293

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

We also welcome the support for farming, farming diversification arid the local timber industries, and in particular the provision to include 'land-based workers' as key workers to assist in accessing affordable housing.

Object

Representation ID: 20295

Received: 29/01/2009

Respondent: SEEDA

Box 20 does not yet identify an absolute preference for affordable housing targets subject to further viability work. We perceive the option of seeking a 50% affordable housing target in the rural areas to be overly ambitious, particularly given the current market, and recommend that the approach taken to affordable housing maintains a degree of flexibility.