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

Bewl Water

1. The Friends of Bewl Water (known in this document as the group) make the following response to Rother District’s Draft Local Plan.
Question 69. Are there any other issues, options or other matters you would like to raise?
2. The group and the watersports clubs welcomes the inclusion of policy on Bewl Water in the Draft Local Plan. Rother District Council will be aware that the Localism Act 2011 s 110 requires local planning authorities to ‘cooperate and engage constructively, actively on an ongoing basis with other local authorities’. They will also be aware of the rules in relation to engagement under the NPPF 2024 para 24-28. Rother District Council is invited to engage constructively with Wealden District Council so that both councils have the same policy on Bewl Water. Currently Wealden District Council has not announced that they will have a Bewl Water policy. Rother District Council is also invited to strengthen their policy on Bewl Water because as currently drafted it will not provide sufficient protection for Bewl Water.
3. Many members of the Friends of Bewl Water and many of the key workers for the group live in Rother. Seven-eighths of Bewl Water is within the Rother District Council area.
General points
4. An overriding principle that the Friends of Bewl Water wish to maintain is that there should be no overnight tourists on site to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the area. This is particularly so for the wildlife, notably the internationally important winter gull roost which they have been advised may not remain if it is disturbed and may not find alternative sites, see the Phelps and Campbell reports commissioned by Wadhurst Parish Council. The reports are on the Friends of Bewl Water’s website (www.friendsofbewl.co.uk).
5. The group draws the Rother District Council’s attention to the Northern Parishes group 35-page representation dated 10 June 2026. The group invites Rother District Council to reread that submission.
6. Rother District Council is invited to consider the Wadhurst and Ticehurst Parish Council 2025 survey results, which accompany this submission.
The watersports
7. Bewl Water is the largest expanse of inland water in the south-east and is ideally suited to quiet daytime watersports such as sailing, rowing, canoeing, windsurfing and fishing. These sports are compatible with nature conservation and have been popular at Bewl Water since the reservoir was formed in 1975.
8. However, the extensive watersports facilities are currently under threat. The watersports clubs do not have security of tenure and need to be safeguarded.
To increase participation, the group and the watersports clubs invite Rother District Council to include a watersports strategy in the Rother District Local Plan
This could
• Ensure that access to watersports is as safe, easy and inclusive as possible
• Enhance the physical and mental health and wellbeing of local communities
• Enhance the education and skills offer of Rother District Council
• Encourage daytime tourism
• Provide positive experiences for children and young people
• To protect the tranquillity and conserve the banks, any motorised water craft should be limited to safety and coaching craft, with no power boating nor waterskiing allowed.
About the Friends of Bewl Water
9. The group was founded in 2024 to protect Bewl Water and the surrounding area from unsuitable development and to protect, preserve and enhance this precious part of the High Weald National Landscape for generations to come. The group wishes to help others to enhance and improve the Bewl Water site and encourage outdoor recreational activity there, particularly for those who live nearby and do not have access to green spaces and wish to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the site. One of the subgroups is the Friends of Bewl Water’s User group. Currently all the water sport clubs at Bewl Water are under threat. None of them currently have security of tenure. The management declines to give it to them. As a result none of them are able to secure grants or invest in facilities. The user group has brought together all the water sport clubs so there is a united front to protect this vital local recreation. Sportsmen and women who have represented the United Kingdom at the Olympics and other international and national sporting events have trained at Bewl Water.
10. The group is currently involved in various submissions to improve the status of Bewl Water as a means of giving the site long term protection. The group has involved themselves in all the planning applications that affect Bewl Water since they were founded. The planning applications have been considered by Wealden District Council, the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court.

Bewl Water

1. The Friends of Bewl Water (known in this document as the group) make the following response to Rother District’s Draft Local Plan.
Question 69. Are there any other issues, options or other matters you would like to raise?
2. The group and the watersports clubs welcomes the inclusion of policy on Bewl Water in the Draft Local Plan. Rother District Council will be aware that the Localism Act 2011 s 110 requires local planning authorities to ‘cooperate and engage constructively, actively on an ongoing basis with other local authorities’. They will also be aware of the rules in relation to engagement under the NPPF 2024 para 24-28. Rother District Council is invited to engage constructively with Wealden District Council so that both councils have the same policy on Bewl Water. Currently Wealden District Council has not announced that they will have a Bewl Water policy. Rother District Council is also invited to strengthen their policy on Bewl Water because as currently drafted it will not provide sufficient protection for Bewl Water.
3. Many members of the Friends of Bewl Water and many of the key workers for the group live in Rother. Seven-eighths of Bewl Water is within the Rother District Council area.
General points
4. An overriding principle that the Friends of Bewl Water wish to maintain is that there should be no overnight tourists on site to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the area. This is particularly so for the wildlife, notably the internationally important winter gull roost which they have been advised may not remain if it is disturbed and may not find alternative sites, see the Phelps and Campbell reports commissioned by Wadhurst Parish Council. The reports are on the Friends of Bewl Water’s website (www.friendsofbewl.co.uk).
5. The group draws the Rother District Council’s attention to the Northern Parishes group 35-page representation dated 10 June 2026. The group invites Rother District Council to reread that submission.
6. Rother District Council is invited to consider the Wadhurst and Ticehurst Parish Council 2025 survey results, which accompany this submission.
The watersports
7. Bewl Water is the largest expanse of inland water in the south-east and is ideally suited to quiet daytime watersports such as sailing, rowing, canoeing, windsurfing and fishing. These sports are compatible with nature conservation and have been popular at Bewl Water since the reservoir was formed in 1975.
8. However, the extensive watersports facilities are currently under threat. The watersports clubs do not have security of tenure and need to be safeguarded.
To increase participation, the group and the watersports clubs invite Rother District Council to include a watersports strategy in the Rother District Local Plan
This could
• Ensure that access to watersports is as safe, easy and inclusive as possible
• Enhance the physical and mental health and wellbeing of local communities
• Enhance the education and skills offer of Rother District Council
• Encourage daytime tourism
• Provide positive experiences for children and young people
• To protect the tranquillity and conserve the banks, any motorised water craft should be limited to safety and coaching craft, with no power boating nor waterskiing allowed.
About the Friends of Bewl Water
9. The group was founded in 2024 to protect Bewl Water and the surrounding area from unsuitable development and to protect, preserve and enhance this precious part of the High Weald National Landscape for generations to come. The group wishes to help others to enhance and improve the Bewl Water site and encourage outdoor recreational activity there, particularly for those who live nearby and do not have access to green spaces and wish to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the site. One of the subgroups is the Friends of Bewl Water’s User group. Currently all the water sport clubs at Bewl Water are under threat. None of them currently have security of tenure. The management declines to give it to them. As a result none of them are able to secure grants or invest in facilities. The user group has brought together all the water sport clubs so there is a united front to protect this vital local recreation. Sportsmen and women who have represented the United Kingdom at the Olympics and other international and national sporting events have trained at Bewl Water.
10. The group is currently involved in various submissions to improve the status of Bewl Water as a means of giving the site long term protection. The group has involved themselves in all the planning applications that affect Bewl Water since they were founded. The planning applications have been considered by Wealden District Council, the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court.

Bewl Water

1. The Friends of Bewl Water (known in this document as the group) make the following response to Rother District’s Draft Local Plan.
Question 69. Are there any other issues, options or other matters you would like to raise?
2. The group and the watersports clubs welcomes the inclusion of policy on Bewl Water in the Draft Local Plan. Rother District Council will be aware that the Localism Act 2011 s 110 requires local planning authorities to ‘cooperate and engage constructively, actively on an ongoing basis with other local authorities’. They will also be aware of the rules in relation to engagement under the NPPF 2024 para 24-28. Rother District Council is invited to engage constructively with Wealden District Council so that both councils have the same policy on Bewl Water. Currently Wealden District Council has not announced that they will have a Bewl Water policy. Rother District Council is also invited to strengthen their policy on Bewl Water because as currently drafted it will not provide sufficient protection for Bewl Water.
3. Many members of the Friends of Bewl Water and many of the key workers for the group live in Rother. Seven-eighths of Bewl Water is within the Rother District Council area.
General points
4. An overriding principle that the Friends of Bewl Water wish to maintain is that there should be no overnight tourists on site to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the area. This is particularly so for the wildlife, notably the internationally important winter gull roost which they have been advised may not remain if it is disturbed and may not find alternative sites, see the Phelps and Campbell reports commissioned by Wadhurst Parish Council. The reports are on the Friends of Bewl Water’s website (www.friendsofbewl.co.uk).
5. The group draws the Rother District Council’s attention to the Northern Parishes group 35-page representation dated 10 June 2026. The group invites Rother District Council to reread that submission.
6. Rother District Council is invited to consider the Wadhurst and Ticehurst Parish Council 2025 survey results, which accompany this submission.
The watersports
7. Bewl Water is the largest expanse of inland water in the south-east and is ideally suited to quiet daytime watersports such as sailing, rowing, canoeing, windsurfing and fishing. These sports are compatible with nature conservation and have been popular at Bewl Water since the reservoir was formed in 1975.
8. However, the extensive watersports facilities are currently under threat. The watersports clubs do not have security of tenure and need to be safeguarded.
To increase participation, the group and the watersports clubs invite Rother District Council to include a watersports strategy in the Rother District Local Plan
This could
• Ensure that access to watersports is as safe, easy and inclusive as possible
• Enhance the physical and mental health and wellbeing of local communities
• Enhance the education and skills offer of Rother District Council
• Encourage daytime tourism
• Provide positive experiences for children and young people
• To protect the tranquillity and conserve the banks, any motorised water craft should be limited to safety and coaching craft, with no power boating nor waterskiing allowed.
About the Friends of Bewl Water
9. The group was founded in 2024 to protect Bewl Water and the surrounding area from unsuitable development and to protect, preserve and enhance this precious part of the High Weald National Landscape for generations to come. The group wishes to help others to enhance and improve the Bewl Water site and encourage outdoor recreational activity there, particularly for those who live nearby and do not have access to green spaces and wish to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the site. One of the subgroups is the Friends of Bewl Water’s User group. Currently all the water sport clubs at Bewl Water are under threat. None of them currently have security of tenure. The management declines to give it to them. As a result none of them are able to secure grants or invest in facilities. The user group has brought together all the water sport clubs so there is a united front to protect this vital local recreation. Sportsmen and women who have represented the United Kingdom at the Olympics and other international and national sporting events have trained at Bewl Water.
10. The group is currently involved in various submissions to improve the status of Bewl Water as a means of giving the site long term protection. The group has involved themselves in all the planning applications that affect Bewl Water since they were founded. The planning applications have been considered by Wealden District Council, the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court.