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

Support

Representation ID: 30781

Received: 21/03/2026

Respondent: Sussex Butterfly Conservation

We strongly support these objectives, particularly 1-3, and thus would like to see the following measures addressed and incorporated into the policies of the Local Plan so that they apply generally to all development delivered in Rother district. These measures relate to habitat creation for butterflies and to reducing light pollution to protect moths. Recommended policy wording is set out in the attached.

Support

Representation ID: 30782

Received: 21/03/2026

Respondent: Sussex Butterfly Conservation

We note that the requirements for development on many of the site allocations refer to areas for Biodiversity Net Gain, Landscape and Ecological Management Plans, multifunctional Green Infrastructure corridors, and ecological enhancements. We support these requirements and ask that they will include delivery of the measures attached. Such improvements will need to be based on comprehensive ecological surveys and we would request that such assessment includes examination of the presence of butterfly and moth species. We would particularly note that to adequately establish which species are present, single surveys are likely to be inadequate, particularly as they will not capture the staggered emergence (as adults from pupae) periods of different species. In addition to visual surveying for adult butterflies, additional methodologies, such as UV searching for larvae and pupae, and winter egg surveying (for Brown Hairstreak eggs) may be appropriate.

Support

Representation ID: 30783

Received: 21/03/2026

Respondent: Sussex Butterfly Conservation

There are many allocations identified in the consultation document which are large both in area and scale of development. These sites would provide particularly good opportunities to incorporate butterfly habitat creation features as well as design to minimise light pollution for moths and we request that these principles are taken into account. In some cases there are sensitive habitats, especially hedgerows, at the edges and on the boundaries of the sites so particular care of these should be taken to protect and enhance these within the development design. We assume that an ecological assessment of the site including for butterflies and moths (as in 2. above) would take place before the development is designed.

Object

Representation ID: 30784

Received: 21/03/2026

Respondent: Sussex Butterfly Conservation

a) With regard to light pollution, we note two sites that by nature of the proposal may require careful design for moths and other species;
BX28 Land at Northeye and adjoining land: some 384 dwellings; community uses which could include outdoor sports facilities including formal playing pitch(es).
BX25 Land at Barnhorn Green for Medical centre/light industrial which requires “a sensitive lighting strategy to avoid impacts on protected species and neighbouring amenity”.

b) We note that White Admiral, a priority species, primarily of woodland, and dependant on Honeysuckle as larval food, are recorded adjacent to sites BX23, BX24 and BX38, and could potentially occur in proximity to other sites. Ecological surveys should therefore also take account of the presence of this species.