Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 27279

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The landowner/clients is of the opinion that these standards are essential for the delivery of a net zero carbon world. They consider these to be very important.

Comment

Representation ID: 27280

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The principles of the policy are supported by the client.

Comment

Representation ID: 27281

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The general principles of the policy are in line with The Environment Act 2021. We do note however that the 30-year maintenance requirement is not embedded within the policy, and we believe that it should be as a matter of completeness. We will comment on the minimum requirement below.

Comment

Representation ID: 27282

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The Environment Act mandates a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain for new developments, which must be maintained for at least 30 years. Since the policy exceeds this minimum there needs to be further justification as to why across the entire district exceeding the minimum is suitable.

As mentioned a number of times, Rother District Council is an area which is rural in character and has a significant area of the district within the High Weald National Landscape, alongside other landscape designations which reduce the overall development capacity.

Furthermore, the District has a historic lack of delivery of housing as evidenced by the most recent Housing Delivery Test Figures (41%). The introduction of a higher BNG requirement will contribute to a continued underdeliver. Granted the levels of off-site opportunities are significant in Rother, in comparison to other parts of the country, but this has been exclusively set out as a last resort by Natural England.

Developers, particularly with sites in more rural areas will most likely be hamstrung by this policy rather than urban areas. We agree with the significant role that the links between our natural environment to our economic growth play in delivering sustainable development, however when we consider that the evidence base does not exist, yet it is clearly premature to insist on the 20% uplift. This will severely limit the level of development in rural areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 27283

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The client’s sites are located within the High Weald National Landscape. We agree with the overarching objective to ensure that new development should fit into the landscape and not harm the said landscape. We recognise that this has the highest status of protection, but it must be made clear that due to the historic lack of delivery of housing in the district, sites which can deliver housing in sustainable locations within the High Weald National Landscape should be supported, as long as they are sensitive to the objectives set out within the NPPF. There is a clear need for housing development and given the significant portion of Rother District Council being located within the High Weald National Landscape, that it is necessary for the council to support development within it.

Comment

Representation ID: 27284

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: 27285

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: 27286

Received: 23/07/2024

Respondent: Trustees of Steellands Farm

Agent: Mr Geoff Megarity

The policy sets out that all new development of one dwelling must meet a number of key criteria including being in an accessible walking distance to village centres. The sites are 1km or less from the heart of Ticehurst and 1 km from the Ticehurst GP Surgery, under 100m of the nearby Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School, 500m to Ticehurst Village Hall, and less than 100m from the Cherry Tree Pub, and 950m from the Ticehurst Village Post Office and Londis, which sells fresh fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, there is a bus stop less than 50m from the sites’ entrance.

In terms of accessible centres, these sites meet the relevant requirements for villages.

In terms of the Public Squares and Spaces and Play, sports, Food Growing Opportunities and Recreational Facilities, in principle there is no objection to these. However, we would recommend that all contributions are agreed in the form of a Supplementary planning document.

Comment

Representation ID: 27287

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: 27288

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.