Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Please clarify that "community facilities" include places of worship.

This is in line with the following national and regional guidance.

The South East Plan, page 231, 11. Community Infrastructure 11.1 states "Given the expected growth in the region's population, there will inevitably be a need for additional investment in community infrastructure -childcare; community centres; village halls; places of worship"

Places of worship were specifically included as community facilities in line with the Draft South East Plan - Pre Submission Consultation Statement (March 06) which stated on page 54 Key Issues "Need to provide a stronger emphasis on community facilities/ infrastructure to provide services and provide focus for the community, and include places of worship as an important part of the infrastructure". Key Changes/ Response "places of worship has been added to supporting text"

The South East Plan, Secretary of State's Proposed Changes, Summary Prepared by SEERA (July 2008) states on page 11, 15.4 "It is proposed that "Community Infrastructure" includes reference to the need for local authorities to consult with those delivering services using community infrastructure (such as Third Sector and Faith Organisations) to ensure appropriate design and location of facilities, in line with the Panel's recommendations."

The SEERA response to the proposed changes (22/10/08) confirmed that the proposed changes were supported by SEERA.

The Rother District Local Plan (adopted July 2006) under section 7. Community Facilities, New and improved community facilities, states "Village halls and community centres can be regarded as vital community facilities. Also, valuable in community life are churches.......and similar organisations for the significant sections of the population."

OPDM Diversity and Equality in Planning
Page 11, paragraph 1: Planning should aim to improve the lives of the widest cross-section of society. Society today is made up of diverse individuals of varying... faiths.

Page 37, 3.7.1 The CEHR will also deal with equality issues relating to discrimination on the
grounds of ... faith and belief. The CEHR will work with other standard-setting agencies and inspectorates to ensure that public service providers comply with equalities and human rights legislation and take an integrated approach towards adopting good equalities and human rights practices.

Page 88, Box - ;'Good Practice Points: Effective Community Engagement."
1. Links should be made with relevant Council departments and other Councils, regeneration initiatives, local and national voluntary sector agencies, Planning Aid, local community meeting places including places of worship, local universities, developers, etc. Planners don't always have to start from scratch and do everything themselves and should make good use of existing activities, information sources and groups - including local access groups. This also helps to deliver an integrated service.

Page 158, "Leicester: Monitoring of Planning Applications"
Places of worship: The planning department took a proactive approach helping with site searches. The approach was structured, with the issuing of registration forms and checking the financial viability of groups. This promoted a greater understanding of the issues, in particular the need for a local facility to serve particular faith communities. Planning policy was amended to permit the consideration of the development of places of worship on sites that had previously been reserved for employment uses. Postgraduate student research exploring housing aspirations of Asian families highlighted the importance of being located near a place of worship.
Key Lessons
A proactive and professional approach to planning applications and siting of places of worship gave confidence in the planning system to the community, promoting trust.

Page 180, Diversity - A recognition that society, such as England today, is made up of many different people with cross-cutting bases for identity, e.g. ...faith group.

ODPM Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development
Page 8, paragraph 16. "Plan policies should...take into account the needs of all the community, including particular requirements relating to...religion..."

Page 17, 42. Planning Authorities should build a clear understanding of the make-up, interests and needs of the communities in their areas. Communities will be made up of many different interest groups, for example, relating to a particular place, ... values or religion. Some of these will be well established and represented. But some groups may be less well equipped to engage with the planning system. An inclusive approach should be taken to ensure that different groups have the opportunity to participate and are not disadvantaged in the process.

Please include a policy that land allocated for employment purposes but which remains undeveloped should be considered for development of community facilities, including places of worship, in line with the following national and regional guidance.

OPDM Diversity and Equality in Planning
Page 158, "Leicester: Monitoring of Planning Applications"
Places of worship: The planning department took a proactive approach helping with site searches. The approach was structured, with the issuing of registration forms and checking the financial viability of groups. This promoted a greater understanding of the issues, in particular the need for a local facility to serve particular faith communities. Planning policy was amended to permit the consideration of the development of places of worship on sites that had previously been reserved for employment uses. Postgraduate student research exploring housing aspirations of Asian families highlighted the importance of being located near a place of worship.
Key Lessons
A proactive and professional approach to planning applications and siting of places of worship gave confidence in the planning system to the community, promoting trust.

ODPM Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development
Page 8, paragraph 16. "Plan policies should...take into account the needs of all the community, including particular requirements relating to...religion..."

The Rother District Local Plan (adopted July 2006) Section 9. Employment Developments Policy EM2 states that regarding employment land, if "it is demonstrated that there is no prospect of its continued use for business purposes......first consideration will be given to a mixed-use development". Policy EM3 states that "Re-use and adaptation of buildings in the countryside........as community facilities that accord with Policy CF1, will be permitted provided......"

The South East Plan, page 65, POLICY RE2: EMPLOYMENT AND LAND PROVISION
Policies should provide for a range of sites and premises based on the following criteria:
v Promotion of mixed use development where appropriate and subject to replacement of land and premises lost to non-employment uses.....

The Secretary of State's Proposed Changes to the above policy states
"As an input to Local Development Documents, local authorities will undertake employment land reviews working with adjoining authorities as appropriate, and in consultation with business interests. This will include reviewing all extant allocations of employment land for their suitability to meet future needs. Where land cannot be economically developed, or which for other reasons is not suitable for employment purposes, alternative allocations may need to be made and the original land reallocated to alternative use"
"Land identified as surplus by employment land reviews may be released for other uses, including housing, provided it meets locational criteria and can contribute towards meeting identified local or strategic needs."