Proposed Submission Core Strategy

Paragraph 8.38 concerns the potential for an expansion of Bexhill Town Centre in an edge of centre location to the north of the railway line. The text clarifies this in relation to Sea Road through to Terminus Road including the southern end of Beeching Road.

The Town Centre expansion of Map 2 shows an area of the north of the railway line, but this is not very well related to the area described in Paragraph 8.38. We consider that the Inset Map should be amended to better reflect the area described in paragraph 8.36.

Bexhill Town Centre is an important place, providing shops, services, jobs and homes to residents of the town. It is a complex place and therefore it is appropriate, in principle, for the Core Strategy to include a policy relating to it. Draft Policy BX2 promotes appropriate uses within the centre, along with a related approach to movement around it and to the design and development within it.

The draft policy draws upon research undertaken to quantify shopping needs and recognises that it is highly unlikely that such provision can be met within the Town Centre. Accordingly, edge of centre expansion to the north of the railway is proposed. This is consistent with, but less detailed than paragraph 8.38. Our clients own commercial land at Beeching Road which is now of poor quality for industrial purposes. They consider that it can be brought forward for redevelopment to meet needs for retail development identified at BX2(iii) and paragraph 8.38. Therefore, they consider that the approach of the Core Strategy towards Bexhill Town Centre is both sound and deliverable.

Bexhill Town Centre is an important place, providing shops, services, jobs and homes to residents of the town. It is a complex place and therefore it is appropriate, in principle, for the Core Strategy to include a policy relating to it. Draft Policy BX2 promotes appropriate uses within the centre, along with a related approach to movement around it and to the design and development within it.

The draft policy draws upon research undertaken to quantify shopping needs and recognises that it is highly unlikely that such provision can be met within the Town Centre. Accordingly, edge of centre expansion to the north of the railway is proposed. This is consistent with, but less detailed than paragraph 8.38. Our clients own commercial land at Beeching Road which is now of poor quality for industrial purposes. They consider that it can be brought forward for redevelopment to meet needs for retail development identified at BX2(iii) and paragraph 8.38. Therefore, they consider that the approach of the Core Strategy towards Bexhill Town Centre is both sound and deliverable.

Draft Policy EC7 promotes a vital and viable town centre in Bexhill. New floorspsace, to met identified needs, is promoted in accordance with the sequential approach to site selection, and subject to assessing the impact on the town centre of potential harmful developments. Paragraph 16.43 states that edge of centre locations are preferable to out of centre sites, such as Ravenside Retail Park, which accords with Goverment guidance and is supported.

Our clients own commerical land in Beeching Road which is now of poor quality for industrial purposes. They considered that it can be brought forward for redevelopment to meet the needs of convenience retail development identified at BX2 (iii) and paragraph 8.38. Subject to there being no suitable, viable and available sites within the Town Centre, they are confident that the capacity identified for additional convenience goods retailing in Bexhill can be delivered on this edge of centre sitem which would be consistent with the objective of EC7 to support Bexhill Town Centre to maintain and increase the proportion of retail spending from its local catchment area.

Accordingly our client also supports Policy EC7 as being deliverable, at least in relation to convenience goods shopping in Bexhill.

Draft Policy EC7 promotes a vital and viable town centre in Bexhill. New floorspsace, to met identified needs, is promoted in accordance with the sequential approach to site selection, and subject to assessing the impact on the town centre of potential harmful developments. Paragraph 16.43 states that edge of centre locations are preferable to out of centre sites, such as Ravenside Retail Park, which accords with Goverment guidance and is supported.

Our clients own commerical land in Beeching Road which is now of poor quality for industrial purposes. They considered that it can be brought forward for redevelopment to meet the needs of convenience retail development identified at BX2 (iii) and paragraph 8.38. Subject to there being no suitable, viable and available sites within the Town Centre, they are confident that the capacity identified for additional convenience goods retailing in Bexhill can be delivered on this edge of centre sitem which would be consistent with the objective of EC7 to support Bexhill Town Centre to maintain and increase the proportion of retail spending from its local catchment area.

Accordingly our client also supports Policy EC7 as being deliverable, at least in relation to convenience goods shopping in Bexhill.