Development and Site Allocations (DaSA) Local Plan - Options and Preferred Options

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Rother District Council Development and Site Allocations Local Plan. The following are officer comments from East Sussex County Council (ESCC). The response has been divided into sections -a separate section for each specialist area (see table of contents below). Some of the responses provide specific answers to the consultation questions, whilst some of the other responses have only provided advice and comments which do not directly relate to any particular question.

General

It is recommended that references to specific infrastructure measures being provided through development contributions under site Policies are removed. Such as in Policy BEX2: Land at Preston Hall Farm, Sidley. How infrastructure is to be funded should be left to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Reg. 123 list. Funding and specific requirements are subject to change therefore it is more appropriate for this issue to be dealt within those documents. There are also likely to be major changes to the development contributions regime indicated in the recent CIL Review Team report 'A new approach to development contributions'. The DaSA we would propose should therefore be silent on these matters as it cannot be comprehensive and current.

It is suggested that the Core Strategy section text should highlight that it contains the overarching policies on infrastructure particularly Policy IM2 Implementation and Infrastructure. It is also suggested that it should state that infrastructure requirements within the DaSA will not be exhaustive but that current information on infrastructure requirements will be contained within the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) which will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in requirements and funding.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development

COMMUNITIES

It is suggested that reference is made to the importance of transport and accessibility alongside the retention of sites of social and economic value. A linkage could be made to the comprehensive Transport & Accessibility policies in the Core Strategy, i.e. TR1, TR2 & TR3.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development

HOUSING Page 35

In DHG3 (ii), you may wish to consider the inclusion of cycle parking.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development

HOUSING Page 35

You may wish to include as part of DHG8 (i) - 'and maintain/enhance accessibility', after highway safety.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development

ECONOMY Page 65

Agree with Policy DEC2, but it is suggested that linkages are made to transport and accessibility to support sustainable tourism.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development
ECONOMY Page 65

Agree with policy DEC3, but it is suggested that element iii), includes reference to 'enhancing' access along with facilitating this.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development

IMPLEMENTATION Page 115

-Comprehensive development

Agree with policy OSS2, in reference to access to facilities and services

Transport Strategy & Economic Development

BEXHILL Page 128

-Policy BEX1: Land at Levetts Wood and Oaktree Farm, Sidley

Agree with policy BEX1 which is in alignment with the proposals for the North Bexhill Access Road (NBAR) and the proposed cycling network for Bexhill, which has been developed to provide access from the preferred sites for housing and employment development and provide access to key services in Bexhill.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development
BEXHILL Page 128
-Policy BEX2: Land at Preston Hall Farm, Sidley

Agree with policy BEX2; in relation to this site, reference could be made to the proposed cycling network for Bexhill which will provide links to key services in Bexhill.

Transport Strategy & Economic Development
BEXHILL Page 128

-Policy BEX3: Land at North Bexhill

Agree with policy BEX3, and the need for an SPD, to manage development alongside associated infrastructure (i.e. transport) coming forward. This policy is in alignment with the development of the Bexhill Cycle Network (v, x), and with the development of NBAR (i,xi) along with the need to improve safety (xii) (xiii).