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

Object

Representation ID: 31101

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Agent: Beckley Parish Council

Object to the proposed village density range of 25–45 dwellings per hectare. In Beckley this level of density would be significantly out of character with the existing dispersed, low‑density rural form and would cause new development to stand out rather than integrate. A maximum density of 25 dph, with an average below this, is considered more appropriate to maintain village character within the High Weald National Landscape. Similar concerns apply wherever higher village densities are proposed in the Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 31102

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Agent: Beckley Parish Council

The proposed allocation of 53 dwellings represents a 165% increase in housing targets for Beckley and equates to around a 10% increase in households in a village with very limited amenities. This level of growth is disproportionate, risks undermining village character within the High Weald National Landscape, and will increase car dependency due to lack of services, shops and public transport.

Object

Representation ID: 31103

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Agent: Beckley Parish Council

Object to extending BC1 to 20 dwellings. The site experiences extensive winter flooding, with surface water already discharging across the road. Development would worsen flooding locally and downstream. Concentrating 20 homes, alongside existing housing, would alter the character of this central part of the village. Smaller, dispersed sites are preferred rather than enlarging a single development in a flood‑sensitive location.

Object

Representation ID: 31104

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Agent: Beckley Parish Council

Object to BC2 due to high density, access and infrastructure constraints. Hobbs Lane already serves over 100 homes, local businesses and has severe parking congestion. A viable footway cannot be delivered without reducing road width. Development would increase parking pressure, threaten business viability during construction, require unsafe pedestrian crossings of the A268, and increase car dependency due to distance from services. Power and sewerage capacity is already inadequate, with recent outages and flooding recorded.

Support

Representation ID: 31105

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Agent: Beckley Parish Council

Support BC3 in principle as an example of spreading development through the village, but object to the proposed scale. The density would result in insufficient parking and further congestion on Main Street. A reduced scheme of around 8 dwellings would be more in keeping with the character and capacity of the village.
Support meeting Beckley’s housing requirement through smaller, lower‑density sites dispersed around the village, including potential locations on Kings Bank, Horseshoe Lane, Church Lane, Rectory Lane and Stoddards Lane. This would better reflect historical village growth, reduce traffic impacts, and allow development to integrate with the rural environment.

Object

Representation ID: 31106

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Agent: Beckley Parish Council

Beckley Parish Council would welcome the opportunity to work with the District Council to identify sites around the village that could be used to meet the quota of houses allocated to the village to make up for the lower density proposed for these sites. There are sites on Kings Bank, Horseshoe Lane, Church Lane, Rectory Lane and Stoddards Lane, which whilst currently outside the development boundaries, would allow for small pockets of
houses to be built in order to meet the targets placed on the village, whilst minimising traffic impacts on the relevant lanes and reflecting the way in which the village has evolved historically.