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

Please see attached:
- Development Strategy and Site Allocations EA response (Part 1)
- Interim SA and IDP EA response (Part 2)
- Rother Draft Local Plan IDP Part B - EA amendments (Part2)

Part 1 - Development Strategy and Site Allocations

Consultation on the Draft Rother Local Plan 2025–2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations

Thank you for consulting us on the Draft Rother Local Plan 2025–2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations

We have provided advice and guidance
to strengthen policies and evidence to ensure the new Local plan aligns with
national, regional and local requirements.

Environment Agency Position

Our aim is to assist you prepare and implement a sound, robust, and effective plan
that is reflective of national policy and your local evidence base. We hope that this
collaborative process leads to a plan that delivers sustainable development,
contributes to a stronger economy, and safeguards the environment for future
generations.

Delivering the Local Plan will require a strong environmental evidence base and
close partnership working to ensure development protects and enhances the
environment. It is essential that growth is supported by the right environmental
infrastructure, including flood defences, quality waste management infrastructure,
blue and green infrastructure, water supply and disposal, and pollution prevention.

Further details are provided in:
• Section 1 – General recommendations
• Section 2 – Specific comments on proposed policies and sites

Environmental evidence and data to inform Local Plan policies and planning
decisions; data – including the latest Flood Zones and Groundwater
source protection Zones (SPZs) is available at Defra Data Services Platform.

Our planning advice service

As allocated or windfall sites with relevant environmental constraints or
opportunities progress towards development, we would encourage applicants to
engage with our planning advice service as early as possible.

We can provide detailed guidance on and/or review technical information for
development proposals, prior to submission of planning applications, as part of our
cost recoverable planning advice service.

Engagement with us prior to formal submission can provide applicants with greater
certainty regarding our position and can speed up our formal response to planning
applications. It should also result in better quality and more environmentally sensitive development.

We hope that you find our comments useful, and we would be pleased to meet with
you to discuss in more detail any issues or queries you may have. Should you have
any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Part 2 - Interim SA and IDP

Consultation on the Draft Rother Local Plan 2025–2042 – Interim Sustainability
Appraisal (SA) and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) Part A and Part B (the
Schedule)
Thank you for consulting us on the Draft Rother Local Plan 2025–2042 – Interim
Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) Part A and
Part B (the Schedule). We have provided advice and guidance to strengthen policies
and evidence to ensure the new Local plan aligns with national, regional and local
requirements.
Environment Agency Position
Our aim is to assist you prepare and implement a sound, robust, and effective plan
that is reflective of national policy and your local evidence base. We hope that this
collaborative process leads to a plan that delivers sustainable development,
contributes to a stronger economy, and safeguards the environment for future
generations.
Delivering the Local Plan will require a strong environmental evidence base and
close partnership working to ensure development protects and enhances the
environment. It is essential that growth is supported by the right environmental
infrastructure, including flood defences, quality waste management infrastructure,
blue and green infrastructure, water supply and disposal, and pollution prevention.
Further details are provided in:
•
Section 1 – Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) comments
•
Section 2 – Interim Sustainability Appraisals (SA) comments
We also attach the following document to our response:
•
Rother Draft Local Plan IDP Part B - EA amendments
Environmental evidence and data to inform Local Plan policies and planning
decisions; data – including the latest Flood Zones and Groundwater
source protection Zones (SPZs) is available at Defra Data Services Platform.
Our planning advice service
As allocated or windfall sites with relevant environmental constraints or
opportunities progress towards development, we would encourage applicants to
engage with our planning advice service as early as possible.
We can provide detailed guidance on and/or review technical information for
development proposals, prior to submission of planning applications, as part of our cost recoverable planning advice service.
Engagement with us prior to formal submission can provide applicants with greater
certainty regarding our position and can speed up our formal response to planning
applications. It should also result in better quality and more environmentally
sensitive development.
We hope that you find our comments useful, and we would be pleased to meet with
you to discuss in more detail any issues or queries you may have. Should you have
any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.