Rother Local Plan 2025-2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations
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Rother Local Plan 2025-2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations
Q2
Representation ID: 29700
Received: 19/03/2026
Respondent: Sussex Community Housing Hub
In terms of the approach to identifying sites the Plan could also explicitly mention the possibility of allocating sites for community-led development. This establishes the principle that anybody developing it should meet the definition of a community-led developer or be partnering with one. Community-led developers have been included in s106 agreements, taking on stewardship of important neighbourhood assets. We think that allocating sites with a presumption that they are community-led developments could strengthen local engagement and trust in the planning system, for example, where there are sites with local sensitivities, or where there is a well established community-led organisation in the neighbourhood - as there are several CLTs in Rother - that would be ideally placed to co-develop and steward assets. There is now a definition of community led development in the NPPF and a strong commitment to rural and community led housing in the new SAHP (Homes England programme),
In terms of the approach to identifying sites the Plan could also explicitly mention the possibility of allocating sites for community-led development. This establishes the principle that anybody developing it should meet the definition of a community-led developer or be partnering with one. Community-led developers have been included in s106 agreements, taking on stewardship of important neighbourhood assets. We think that allocating sites with a presumption that they are community-led developments could strengthen local engagement and trust in the planning system, for example, where there are sites with local sensitivities, or where there is a well established community-led organisation in the neighbourhood - as there are several CLTs in Rother - that would be ideally placed to co-develop and steward assets. There is now a definition of community led development in the NPPF and a strong commitment to rural and community led housing in the new SAHP (Homes England programme),
Support
Rother Local Plan 2025-2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations
Q8
Representation ID: 29703
Received: 19/03/2026
Respondent: Sussex Community Housing Hub
The development strategy doesn’t mention community-led development and yet there is clear evidence of demand for this which is not being provided by the planning system currently. The government has supported community-led approaches to development
elsewhere — for example making it a priority in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme – and it is a part of the ministerial priority for market diversification. The need to meeting demand for these models was reflected in the the current NPPF in paragraph 73(b) and there is a groundswell of community led housing projects underway in Rother; Icklesham (scheme completed) , Marsham, Iden and Rye. Rural local authorities such as East Cambridgeshire DC are pro-actively supporting rural and community led development via local plan policy making for example. This helps to facilitate community led schemes which can provide additionality by unlocking sites, overcoming opposition and delivering quality affordable homes for local people.
The development strategy doesn’t mention community-led development and yet there is clear evidence of demand for this which is not being provided by the planning system currently. The government has supported community-led approaches to development
elsewhere — for example making it a priority in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme – and it is a part of the ministerial priority for market diversification. The need to meeting demand for these models was reflected in the the current NPPF in paragraph 73(b) and there is a groundswell of community led housing projects underway in Rother; Icklesham (scheme completed) , Marsham, Iden and Rye. Rural local authorities such as East Cambridgeshire DC are pro-actively supporting rural and community led development via local plan policy making for example. This helps to facilitate community led schemes which can provide additionality by unlocking sites, overcoming opposition and delivering quality affordable homes for local people.
Object
Rother Local Plan 2025-2042 – Development Strategy and Site Allocations
Q15
Representation ID: 29704
Received: 19/03/2026
Respondent: Sussex Community Housing Hub
To create or maintain a "living ,working countryside" requires a commitment to supporting sustainable rural communities. These rely on a well balanced socio-economic and demographic communities. This is enabled via the provision of rural and community led housing in all villages regardless of their current size or number of facilities. 53% of the population of Rother live in rural areas, way above the national average (17%) or East Sussex average (26%) so there should be a stronger focus on the needs of rural communities. At present there are very few RPs willing to engage with smaller rural schemes in Rother and the Plan could do more to incentivise them and others by referencing the importance rural and community led development and via policy which supports this, as described in other sections. As mentioned such approaches have been well acknowledged now in the NPPF and new SAHP (Homes England).
To create or maintain a "living ,working countryside" requires a commitment to supporting sustainable rural communities. These rely on a well balanced socio-economic and demographic communities. This is enabled via the provision of rural and community led housing in all villages regardless of their current size or number of facilities. 53% of the population of Rother live in rural areas, way above the national average (17%) or East Sussex average (26%) so there should be a stronger focus on the needs of rural communities. At present there are very few RPs willing to engage with smaller rural schemes in Rother and the Plan could do more to incentivise them and others by referencing the importance rural and community led development and via policy which supports this, as described in other sections. As mentioned such approaches have been well acknowledged now in the NPPF and new SAHP (Homes England).
