Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 25989

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We support the overarching principles of compact development. Our clients’ sites will contribute to these overarching principles of compact development by providing sites of appropriate density to support the local community, services and economy. Our clients’ sites as mentioned, are 1km from Ticehurst Village Centre and will be able to promote suitable active transport methods such as walking, cycling and wheeling to the village.

Comment

Representation ID: 25990

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We believe that the proposed densities are considered sensible. We do believe however that Ticehurst, given it is identified as a Moderately Sustainable settlement as set out in the Settlement Study Report, could expand its development boundaries to include our client’s sites. This sustainability score and the sites’ proximity to key services would allow for them to be within the “village area” designation and would ensure that the level of development proposed would be suitable.

Comment

Representation ID: 25991

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The policy requires new developments of one dwelling to be within walking distance of village centers. The proposed sites meet this criterion, being 1km or less from Ticehurst's heart, GP Surgery, and 950m from the Post Office and Londis. They are under 100m from Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School and the Cherry Tree Pub, 500m from Ticehurst Village Hall, and less than 50m from a bus stop. The sites are suitable in terms of accessibility to village amenities. While there are no objections to public squares, recreational facilities, and food growing opportunities, it is recommended that contributions be formalized through a Supplementary Planning Document.

Comment

Representation ID: 25992

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

As set out in the above, we believe that our clients site meets the requirements for villages. The policy sets out that villages should be able to have a slightly wider radius than that of larger centres. All of these distances support the principle of 20-minute neighbourhood. We would recommend that the wording of the policies is slightly changed to set out a specific distance radius for villages.

Comment

Representation ID: 25993

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We support this policy. Our client’s sites are located 50m to 100m away from bus stops which provide public transport options to future residents. The location of these sites will comply with the ambitions of the council.

Comment

Representation ID: 25994

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We support the design principles set out in this policy. We also support the principles of ensuring that the High Weald Nation Landscape is protected.
In terms of the re-use of materials, this is generally acceptable in principle but clear design guides for rural villages within the High Weald National Landscape should be carried out.

Comment

Representation ID: 25996

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We agree with the principles of the proposed policy, however we believe that the policy should be underwritten by the fact that the district has a history of failing to deliver on housing. The need for housing and the protection of the landscape should be given similar value in a planning assessment.

Comment

Representation ID: 25997

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We fundamentally disagree with the council's housing delivery approach. While the final housing target is pending, the council's evidence indicates a need for 737 new dwellings annually in Rother, far exceeding the current policies. However, the council's strategy targets only 258-364 new homes per year, less than 50% of the required amount. Rother currently delivers just 41% of its required housing. Despite the emphasis on sensitive rural development, villages like Ticehurst can accommodate more housing due to their services. Our client’s sites align with the 20-minute neighbourhood principle and should be considered in the strategy. A stronger commitment to housing in sustainable rural locations, consistent with local authority objectives, is necessary.

Comment

Representation ID: 25998

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

Generally, our clients agree that sensitive and sustainable housing developments will help deliver the aims of the plan, however the proposed vision overarchingly suggests that no new development sites are required other than those already identified in the Ticehurst Neighbourhood Plan. This is considered unacceptable given the significant levels of lack of delivery of housing. They identify the clients two sites. TIC0043- Land at Cherry Tree Field, Lower Platts, Ticehurst and TIC0044- Land at Steellands Farm, Ticehurst, as potential additional growth. We believe that they are sustainably located and can be designed in a manner to minimise any impact on the National Landscape through sensitive design.

Comment

Representation ID: 25999

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

We believe that the suggested identified distribution lacks the overarching needs for the wider district. Sites for housing delivery where they are in a sustainable settlement in terms of services should be increased.
Robertsbridge seems to have a disproportionate number of homes allocated for a smaller settlement than Ticehurst.
We believe that a more sustainable way to deliver housing would be to even the spread of development across the northern villages. The over delivery of housing in one village and being over-reliant on that village to meet the development aims of the district can lead to a disproportionate and