Rother Local Plan 2025-2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations

Object

Representation ID: 31215

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

See attachment "2026 Local Plan submission" for full representation.

The objectives are aspirational rather than directive. This means they will generally be ineffective. It is appreciated the policies of central government undermine the opportunities for local authorities to have effective plans. It is suggested that ‘Strategy 2’ should be divided into two parts. Preserve the historic landscape should not be linked with a separate policy of allowing communities to thrive.

The policy should read, ‘Preserve the historic landscape character of the High Weald National Landscape, protect the Special Protection Areas (SPAs), protect the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), protect the Protected Habitat areas and all protected sites in the Rother District.’ Nature and the environment should be in separate policies.

Currently the policy does not deal with Special Protection Area (SPA) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The current policy gives the impression these designations are not important.

Object

Representation ID: 31216

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

See attachment "2026 Local Plan submission" for full representation.

Our ancient field system:

The medieval field layout of Burwash is unique and is an important historical survivor which gives residents and visitors an environment of great beauty and historical importance. The surrounding countryside is also important for the visitors to Bateman’s.

Dr Nicola R Bannister AIFA published a report, Historic Landscape Characterisation report in 2010 on Sussex’s Historic Landscape. The report concluded that the parish of Burwash had the greatest landscape survival from the medieval period in East Sussex, see page 51 of the report.

If over 200 years each generation uses the fields for houses, the historic landscape will disappear.

The group considers that current national and local policies provide inadequate protection.

There should be a new policy to protect Burwash’s fields, because it is a unique survivor. The best protected landscape should be protected from development.

Object

Representation ID: 31220

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

See attachment "2026 Local Plan submission" for full representation.

The figures for an area with over 90% with a protected status is too high. There is a group of local authorities, including Wealden, who are considering a group response for these high figures in the South-East. In Burwash the new houses provide no assistance to the local community. A list of the unsold houses is in section IV of this response.

To get rid of the surplus stock in Burwash and surrounding countryside, the developers have done deals with urban councils. There are many problems with this. Firstly it creates anger in the village as people take the houses that should be for local people. Secondly, the families that move in cause issues. Third is that this is an unsuitable place for people used to an urban environment. The families are forced to move out of their communities.

Object

Representation ID: 31222

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

See attachment "2026 Local Plan submission" for full representation.

The figures for an area with over 90% with a protected status is too high. There is a group of local authorities, including Wealden, who are considering a group response for these high figures in the South-East. In Burwash the new houses provide no assistance to the local community. A list of the unsold houses is in section IV of this response.

To get rid of the surplus stock in Burwash and surrounding countryside, the developers have done deals with urban councils. There are many problems with this. Firstly it creates anger in the village as people take the houses that should be for local people. Secondly, the families that move in cause issues. Third is that this is an unsuitable place for people used to an urban environment. The families are forced to move out of their communities.

Object

Representation ID: 31223

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

The vision for Northern Rother from para 6.80 to para 6.95 is almost entirely descriptive. There is virtually no proposed vision or development strategy. A major part of the strategy should be to protect the National Landscape.

Object

Representation ID: 31224

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

The vision includes ‘new development will be with strictly limited to …housing needs.’ That cannot be described as a vision. Housing needs implies that you can put houses wherever you like. Vision should be to protect the countryside should be about putting the right house in the right place and not being beholden to the Financial aspirations of developers.

Object

Representation ID: 31226

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

See attachment "2026 Local Plan submission" for full representation.

Assessing the proposed allocations:

The group notes that Rother District Council is putting these ‘proposed sites in draft form, see para 1.16.

It is noted that many other villages will lose their distinctive identity. Flimwell would have a percentage increase more than most while many settlements have no housing allocation at all.

The group makes no complaint about what would be an imbalance between settlements as allocations should be determined on a site by site basis. Bodiam, a significant settlement, should have no sites allocated to their area. A similar approach is taken for other villages.

There are other less constrained areas which have been awarded more houses than the size of the settlement. It is an approach that is to be commended. It would also mean that places like Burwash of such historic and environmental importance would not have sites.

Object

Representation ID: 31227

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

Policy 2 needs amending in line with the answer to the first question. None of the policies will actually make any difference to employment. The policy should be about infrastructure and Wi-Fi etc.

Object

Representation ID: 31228

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

The policy should include the requirement that the sites should not be on protected landscapes. Currently the allocation of gypsy sides is being abused. The site at Pashley Road in Ticehurst is a clear example.

Object

Representation ID: 31229

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Burwash: Save our Fields

The policy should include the requirement that the sites should not be on protected landscapes. Currently the allocation of gypsy sides is being abused. The site at Pashley Road in Ticehurst is a clear example.