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

Object

Representation ID: 30323

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

Rother has a duty to conserve and enhance Historic Landscapes. We think it essential that there should be a
section in the Local Plan detailing what features/characteristics of the High Weald should be
preserved.
We suggest that specific policies are required to preserve unspoilt valleys like the Rother, Dudwell and the Brede.

Object

Representation ID: 30325

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

With 90% of Rother as protected landscape, we think this figure is too high. A genuine housing needs assessment needs to be carried out and evidenced to the inspector.

Support

Representation ID: 30328

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

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Object

Representation ID: 30337

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

While we think density should be increased in urban centres, it is wrong to have high densitys in High Weald villages, particularly on their fringes.

Object

Representation ID: 30342

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

Rother appears to have no overall strategy for the High Weald area and we suggest that specific policies need to be developed based on the High Weald management plan. The High Weald is made up of scattered settlements so care should be taken when expanding villages. There should be a general presumption in accordance with paragraph 190 of the NPPF against major developments over most of the High Weald we will regard anything in excess of 20 houses as major.

Object

Representation ID: 30347

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

We think the overall figure is likely to prove too high for an area whose charachteristics as a historic landscape, Rother is statutorily duty bound to conserve and enhance.
While there are some villages in the historic landscape that can accept modest development, most will require attention to infrastructure - particulry drainage, before development is undertaken.
Particular care must be taken to preserve the green wedges between villages.

Support

Representation ID: 30350

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

While we support these objectives, it is important to note, that the High Weald is a protected landscape and requires policies specific to its conservation and enhancement.

Object

Representation ID: 30356

Received: 23/03/2026

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

The Parish Council considers that insufficient weight has been given to the duty to conserve and enhance the High Weald National Landscape. The Local Plan would benefit from a clearer articulation of the defining characteristics of this landscape and the translation of the High Weald Management Plan into specific development policies. Etchingham sits within a particularly sensitive location at the confluence of the Rivers Limden, Rother and Dudwell, where landscape character, biodiversity, and historic features are closely interrelated and highly vulnerable to change.

Infrastructure remains a significant constraint. There are known issues within the parish relating to drainage and sewage capacity, including instances of overspill, which raise both environmental and public health concerns. In addition, highway safety (particularly on the Straight Mile), and pressures on local medical services, require further consideration and investment before additional development can be accommodated.

We object to the omission of the Lambing shed site