Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

We understand that you will be focusing a majority of development within Bexhill, and we support the preferred option in that it pursues an urban focus by preference and is based on a service centre hierarchy. This approach is broadly consistent with that proposed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in its Core Strategy Preferred Options Report.

It is noted that this approach would see the next greatest proportion of housing allocated within the villages. Accepting that you are looking to the villages to accommodate development due to the constraints at Rye and Battle, we would be concerned to ensure that it continues to be closely tied to a service provision justification, and that land release is carefully controlled as indicated in Section 9 - Rural Areas. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is not proposing to allocate greenfield sites abutting villages for general market housing (as indicated in para. 9.24) and would not support their growth based only on land availability.

We note that Flimwell has been allocated housing only once the problems of the A21 have been resolved. Therefore we support this approach, which only supports housing development in this location once the infrastructure is in place to deal with it.

We would support this approach in line with SE Plan policy NRM3, and would wish to work together with Rother District Council on this.