Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Support

Representation ID: 19915

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Paragraph 9.20
Croudace supports the identification of Robertsbridge as a Rural Service Centre. The conclusions of the Rural Settlement Study in relation to the village's development potential are also supported. However, it would be beneficial to ascertain how the Council has estimated that the village could accommodate 55 - 100 dwellings up to 2026, which includes the existing two allocated sites providing approximately 46 units. It is assumed that further information regarding this level of development will be made available when the SHLAA is published

Support

Representation ID: 19916

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Paragraph 9.24
Support

The acknowledgement that greenfield development in the villages will be required and that such development will need to have regard to the surrounding landscape is supported.

Object

Representation ID: 19917

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Section 5+ Appendix 3+ Paragraphs 9.28 - 9.29
The total approximate figures should not be treated as a ceiling, but rather as an absolute minimum to be in accordance with the South East Plan. In addition, as referred to in the Core Strategy, the estimates of development yield are subject to more detailed assessment. Croudace has concerns over the Council's calculation of the residual requirement taking into account completions and commitments, as this too is subject to further assessment. In all therefore, whilst the document refers to a residual requirement of some 400 dwellings in rural areas 2008-2026, this may not be truly representative of the current situation.

Object

Representation ID: 19918

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Paragraph 9.32 - 9.33
It is not accepted that "a good track record of windfall housing developments" constitutes a genuine local circumstance and that a more robust justification is needed to support the Council's claim. Whilst past trends do give a relatively good indication of how development has taken place, recently this has been supported by a period of economic boom. Given current market conditions, it is likely that a significant reduction in the number of windfall sites coming forward will occur, thus if the Council continues to rely heavily on windfall sites, this could lead to a housing shortfall.

Object

Representation ID: 19919

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Paragraph 9.34
The phasing of development along the A21 towards the latter part of the plan is unjustified as the Council offers no evidence to suggest that the A21 as existing is not capable of accommodating any additional development. Should the Council wish to pursue a stringent phasing for developments along the A21, this must be supported by robust highways evidence (as is the case at North Bexhill) which demonstrates that developments should be phased. Such an approach will have significant implications for the Council's development strategy for the rural areas given that Robertsbridge, the main service centre, is itself located on the A21. It is noted in Box 17, that only developments at Hurst Green and Filmwell are intended to be phased for the later part of the plan, this needs to be made clear throughout the document.

Comment

Representation ID: 19920

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

It is important to ensure that housing delivery in the rural centres is balanced with employment development to promote a sustainable pattern of development which seeks to reduce the need to travel for employment opportunities. It is therefore important that existing employment areas are retained for that use where possible or to be developed as part of a mixed use scheme with employment being the main land use, subject to robust viability assessments.

Support

Representation ID: 19921

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

The emphasis given to the need to maintain and promote employment sites in the villages is supported. It is essential, in the interest of maintaining balanced communities, that there remains to be an appropriate balance of jobs to dwellings in the rural areas. Whilst it is acknowledged that the retention of some sites purely for employment purposes may not be viable, the quantum of any enabling development required to bring forward employment sites should be guided by a robust viability assessment.

Comment

Representation ID: 19922

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Development should be located in accessible areas which can capitalise on existing transport infrastructure, particularly public transport, and where necessary and appropriate, provide for any improvements in local transport infrastructure commensurate with the level of proposed development. It is not the role of new development to rectify existing deficiencies of provision.

Object

Representation ID: 19923

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

It is not accepted that the level of development for the rural areas of 1,250 - 1,300 dwellings is robust as the Core Strategy itself acknowledges that this needs to be the subject of further assessments.

The phasing of development should be carefully considered so as to ensure that the Core Strategy is not overly restrictive and inflexible. It is not considered appropriate for the Core Strategy to include such specific details, especially as this will be refined by the Site Allocations DPD.

Support

Representation ID: 19924

Received: 27/01/2009

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

Croudace supports the suggestion in (v) that all existing Local Plan allocations, including reserved sites, should be released for development with only new allocations being subject to any potential phasing policies.