Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 27790

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

In our Parish Site SAL0012 (land off Bishops Lane) is identified as a potential site even though it was rejected by our community as part of the local neighbourhood plan process and this exclusion was accepted by the Government Inspector who reviewed our proposed Neighbourhood Plan. The Parish Council and residents feel very strongly that it is crucial that our Neighbourhood Plan, overwhelmingly supported by residents in our referendum, should be respected by Rother as an important output of the democratic process.

We also question why Site SAL005 (land off Station Road) is not included as an identified site as it has an approved planning application for a new Health Centre and housing (in the draft plan it is labelled a potential site).

Comment

Representation ID: 27791

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

Where is the total number of proposed new dwellings in each Parish, previously listed in the Core Strategy) going to be published?

Comment

Representation ID: 27792

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

We agree with your assessment that Redlands Lane Traveller site in our Parish should not be expanded. However, could Policy HOU11 mean that this site could grow in the future regardless of the fact it is not identified in the Plan, if there is space for it to expand? We would not welcome this development as it is a very settled site, with families living there for a long time.

Comment

Representation ID: 27793

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

We are very concerned about the proposal regarding 100% affordable housing sites (Policy HOU1 does not specify 40% affordability). While we want to see more affordable housing, we strongly believe that such housing should be intermingled with the private dwellings to avoid the affordable housing being set apart and ensure that the various residents on a site co-exist as a whole and not as different groups. Policies HOU3 and HOU4 will impact on communities including the availability of CIL money (one of the key incentives for our parish to devote significant resources towards creating a Neighbourhood Plan was to be able to use the enhanced CIL to finance improvements to public facilities within our Parish). Our largest identified site by far is Site SAL0003 Hodson's Mill which has recently been acquired by Homes England which has an objective to provide affordable homes. If Homes England decide to build a sizeable proportion or possibly 100% affordable homes this will significantly impact the CIL money our Parish receives (the Government Inspector determined that there should be no requirement for affordable homes on the site due to the likely high development costs) to develop the local provided infrastructure such as playground facilities, to support this large development.

Comment

Representation ID: 27794

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

We are very concerned about the proposal regarding 100% affordable housing sites (Policy HOU1 does not specify 40% affordability). While we want to see more affordable housing, we strongly believe that such housing should be intermingled with the private dwellings to avoid the affordable housing being set apart and ensure that the various residents on a site co-exist as a whole and not as different groups. Policies HOU3 and HOU4 will impact on communities including the availability of CIL money (one of the key incentives for our parish to devote significant resources towards creating a Neighbourhood Plan was to be able to use the enhanced CIL to finance improvements to public facilities within our Parish). Our largest identified site by far is Site SAL0003 Hodson's Mill which has recently been acquired by Homes England which has an objective to provide affordable homes. If Homes England decide to build a sizeable proportion or possibly 100% affordable homes this will significantly impact the CIL money our Parish receives (the Government Inspector determined that there should be no requirement for affordable homes on the site due to the likely high development costs) to develop the local provided infrastructure such as playground facilities, to support this large development.

Comment

Representation ID: 27795

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

Policy HOU10 suggests there is not growing demand for care homes for older residents which does not reflect our experience of need for greater provision in rural areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 27797

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

We are very concerned about the proposal to weaken the importance of development boundaries (Policy DEV3) as Policy HOU4 allows new developments outside development boundaries. Surely, the whole point of development boundaries is to prevent such overspill!

Comment

Representation ID: 27798

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

We are very concerned about the proposal to weaken the importance of development boundaries (Policy DEV3) as Policy HOU4 allows new developments outside development boundaries. Surely, the whole point of development boundaries is to prevent such overspill!

Comment

Representation ID: 27799

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

There is no additional protection for the High Weald National Landscape which itself has a new and less robust plan. Policy GTC9 High Weald National Landscape (AONB) needs to be more robust with clearer definition of minor and major development. Dark skies in rural areas need protection from inappropriate lighting schemes on both commercial and residential developments along with equestrian menages.

Comment

Representation ID: 27801

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council

There is no additional protection for the High Weald National Landscape which itself has a new and less robust plan. Policy GTC9 High Weald National Landscape (AONB) needs to be more robust with clearer definition of minor and major development. Dark skies in rural areas need protection from inappropriate lighting schemes on both commercial and residential developments along with equestrian menages.