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Local Plan Statement

8TH July 2022

Work is progressing on Wealden District Council’s Draft Local Plan, which will shape the district’s places, plan and manage growth and infrastructure, and guide development in the district in future years.


fields with the words local plan in the background

The government requires councils to have a Local Plan and work has continued following the conclusion of a Direction of Travel consultation with communities, partner organisations and stakeholders on a range of important topics.


A timetable was set out to consult on the Draft Local Plan in spring this year but due to an unforeseen change of circumstances and too much uncertainty in relation to plan-making, the council is revising the Local Plan timetable and the consultation has been pushed back.


The issues include matters around Wealden District Council’s housing requirement and the continued lobbying to the government on housing numbers the authority is obliged to provide, a new National Planning Policy Framework prospectus not yet published and uncertainty surrounding a new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill – announced in May and proposing a number of key changes to the planning system – which will affect the way Local Plans are produced and their content.


Wealden District Council leader and portfolio holder for Planning, Councillor Ann Newton said, “The Local Plan is an important document and we wanted to progress it as quickly as possible in order to meet the government’s deadline of plan adoption by 2024 – and provide certainty to our communities, partners and developers on the future planning strategy for the district.


“However, there is too much uncertainty currently which would directly affect our Local Plan strategy and the content of our draft plan for us to consult on a Draft Local Plan at this time.


“We need to understand what these changes are and for any updated requirements to be considered as part of our plan-making process and included in our draft Local Plan.


“This understanding will ensure that the plan we consult on is relevant, up-to-date, sound and robust and will not require later amendments to account for any future national changes that we are aware are coming.”

Wealden Local Plan

Update

About the new local plan

We are preparing a new local plan for Wealden District, which will replace the current Local Plan. The new Local Plan will provide policies to shape our places, plan and manage growth in the district and guide development over a 15-20 year period. The local plan will ultimately be the key planning document against which we assess and make decisions on planning applications.

Friday 8th July 2022 – Local Plan update

As part of the plan-making process, we must set out a timetable for local plan preparation. This is provided in our Local Development SchemeOpen this document with ReadSpeaker docReader (LDS), which was adopted on 22nd July 2020 by Full Council. Our current Adopted LDS sets out that we will undertake a Regulation 18 Consultation on a Draft Local Plan in spring 2022. Due to an unforeseen change in circumstances, we can confirm that the Local Plan timetable will now be revised (due to reasons outlined below) and we will look to update our LDS shortly, which will provide a new Local Plan timetable. We will also review the timetable for other planning documents as relevant to the Local Plan also.

The Local Plan is an important document and we have set out from the very beginning to progress our Local Plan as quickly as possible in order to meet the Government’s deadline of plan adoption by 2024 as well as to provide certainty to our communities, partners and developers on the future planning strategy for the District. However, on balance, there is too much uncertainty currently, which would directly affect our Local Plan strategy and the content of our draft plan for us to consult on a Draft Local Plan at this time. A summary of the issues we are currently facing are provided below.

Uncertainty in relation to the number of houses we are required to deliver

As it stands, Wealden District Council is required to deliver 1,212 houses per year under central Government’s arrangements for calculating housing need, known as the ‘standard method’.

Our Members over the past year have been meeting with Ministers and lobbying central Government to lower the number of houses that Wealden District Council are required to deliver in future years and we are aware that this is a policy area that is currently being considered by central Government. We anticipate that the Government will, over the coming month(s), provide new guidance in the application of the ‘standard method’ that will address the relationship between the levelling up agenda and the districts housing requirement.

We do not currently know what this will mean for the district in relation to housing numbers. However, we do know that it is pertinent to understand what the changes are and for any updated housing requirement to be considered as part of our plan-making process and included in our draft Local Plan. This will ensure that the plan we consult on is relevant, up-to-date, sound and robust and will not require later amendments to account for any future national changes to the housing requirement that we are aware is coming.

Uncertainty in relation to the Regeneration and Levelling up Bill (LURB) and new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

On 10th May 2022, a new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) was announced in the Queens Speech. The LURB sets out details of the Government’s planned changes to planning reform. The Bill proposes a number of key changes to the planning system, which will affect the way that local plans are produced as well as their content.

We are aware of the headline changes set out in the LURB. However, the details of the exact changes are due to be provided by central Government in the coming months.

During the second reading of the LURB on 8th June 2022, it was announced that a National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ‘prospectus’ would be published in July 2022, setting out the direction of travel for changes to national policy. The Council considers that it is important to understand what the NPPF prospectus will contain and what this will mean for planning in Wealden, prior to consulting on a Local Plan, for similar reasons as stated above.

Local Plan revised timetable

Since the Direction of Travel consultation concluded in January 2021, we have been working with partners and consultants to gather evidence. We have published a number of evidence base documents that will inform local plan production. This includes a Local Housing Needs Assessment, an Economy Study, an updated Landscape Character Assessment, a Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment, an Open Space Assessment, a Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Study, a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and visitor surveys at Ashdown Forest and Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) sites.

Whilst we wait for further clarity in relation to plan-making, we will continue to complete further key studies alongside our plan production that were programmed either later in the process or would require to be undertaken alongside the Local Plan, such as a Town Centre Study, an Indoor Sports and Facilities Assessment, a Visitor Accommodation Assessment, an Urban Capacity and Density Study and further landscape and sensitivity assessments. We will also continue to progress the Sustainability Appraisal and the Habitats Regulations Assessment alongside plan-making.

In relation to the Local Plan itself, we will continue to test and refine the Local Plan strategy and draft policies. Once we hear from central Government on the above critical matters, we will test and refine our strategy in accordance with the latest housing requirement and any other matters that will be critical to our Local Plan. This will assist us in continuing to progress the plan as quickly as possible once we are aware of changes to the planning system.

In relation to an updated timetable, this will be made available via an updated LDS in due course. This will be published once we have had an opportunity to consider the nature of planning reform, the impact this may have on the production of our Local Plan in relation to the time it will take to test and refine the Local Plan growth strategy and associated draft policies.

If you would like to receive updates about the Draft Local Plan and take part in the consultation process, please register using our consultation portal.  If you are already registered and would prefer not to receive information, you can remove your details using the same link.

Direction of Travel Consultation

The Direction of Travel consultation, that took place between 23rd November 2020 and 18th January 2021, was the first stage in our Local Plan engagement process. It provided an opportunity for us to hear the views of our communities, partner organisations and stakeholders on a range of important topic areas as to how the district should address the issues and challenges that it faces, accommodate growth and to help us define a vision for our district.

We asked a series of questions as well as provided an opportunity for you to tell us what you think on a range of planning related themes such as climate change, infrastructure, housing, the economy and employment, town centres, tourism, the natural environment, landscape, heritage and cultural assets, design and health and wellbeing. We also provided a number of high-level growth options to comment on.

We received over 1,700 comments to the consultation from 304 respondents. We have now reviewed all comments that we received as part of the consultation and we have provided a consultation summary report. We have also updated our Sustainability Scoping Report, which we also invited comments on during the consultation period. These documents can be viewed below:

  • Wealden Local Plan – Direction of Travel Consultation DocumentOpen this document with ReadSpeaker docReader
  • Wealden Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (November 2020)Open this document with ReadSpeaker docReader
  • Wealden Local Plan Consultation and Engagement Strategy (November 2020)Open this document with ReadSpeaker docReader
  • Wealden Local Plan Direction of Travel Sub-Committee Report (11th March 2021)

You can view all responses that we received to our consultation via our consultation portal

The Timetable

Consultation Portal

Click on the picture above to go to the Wealden District Council Consultation Portal

Here is the Planning Inspectors Local Plan List and current completion information .

 

Local Plans: the examination process

New Local Plan

WDC Consultations - Closed

WDC Consultations - Closed

WDC Consultations - Closed

Check these links for the published conclusions and results

Direction of Travel Consultation

Hailsham Town Centre Masterplan Options Consultation

Wealden Town Centres Study

Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (SPA) Visitor Survey

Proposals for a new Wealden Community Sports Hub on the outskirts of Hailsham

Wealden Open Space Consultation

 Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) Visitor Surveys

Consultation Archive

Key Dates and Documents

WDC Consultations - Closed

WDC Consultations - Closed

Key Documents

WDC produced documentation.

I would urge everyone to start here

Local Development 

Scheme 2020 - 2023

Wealden Local Plan Consultation &

Engagement  Strategy

Then move on for more in depth information.

WDC Planning Policy

Planning Policy Documents

Planning Policy Evidence Base

Current Adopted Local Plan Documents

National Planning Policy Framework

Planning  practice guidance

Local Plan Route Mapper

The Localism Act 2011 

More to come as it appears.

Note I am working with WDC to ensure that the iformation I provide in this the New Local Plan section is correct.



Parish Cluster Meetings

WDC Consultations - Closed

Local Plan Production Guide

These are happening now in a lead up to the public consultation period in Spring 2022.

You need to ask your Parish or Town Council regarding this information as none of the meetings are miniated.

Please refer to the Wealden Local Plan Consultation & Engagement  Strategy opposite for more information on this.

Wealden Central East Parish Cluster

Letter


Local Plan Production Guide

Local Plan Production Guide

Local Plan Production Guide

Local Plan Production Guide

UK Government Information 

A clear explanation to the changes in the NPPF July 2021 edition can be found here

2019 Local Plan Document Archive

Community Involvement

Local Plan Production Guide

Community Involvement

How the community can get involved

Section 1 Live consultations

Wealden Residents Survey 2021

Theis ends on the 31st of October 2021

A message from Bob Standley 25/10/2021

"We will be consulting on our draft plan in the spring, following extensive engagement with the Parish Clusters. This will be a full public consultation, providing you with an opportunity to comment on every aspect of the plan."

Local Plan News

Local Plan Production Guide

Community Involvement

Current Neighbourhood Plans In progress.

Please see what your MP has been doing in the House of Commons on planning.

 Ms Nusrat Ghani 

 Huw Merriman 

Central Goverment published their new leveling up white paper with planning reforms coming in the spring.here

School Places in East Sussex

East Sussex Interactive Deprivation Report 2019

Environment and the Local Plan

Wealden District Council and the Climate Emergency

Wealden District Council and the Climate Emergency

Wealden District Council and the Climate Emergency

Wealden District Council Statement and Documents

Climate change

"Our climate is changing as a result of human activity since the industrial revolution. If we are to avoid the most harmful effects of climate change, such as more extreme weather, warmer summers, wetter winters and increases in sea level, we must take action to reduce our impact on the environment now.


Wealden District Council is committed to protecting and improving our natural environment, reducing our emissions and enhancing quality of life for our residents. Working with our partners, businesses and the community, we are taking action."

Government Information

Wealden District Council and the Climate Emergency

Wealden District Council and the Climate Emergency

UK Government Main Information

Net Zero Strategy

Extract

" From heating our homes to filling up our cars,  burning fossil fuels releases the greenhouses  gases that increase global temperatures.  We are already seeing the effects here in  the UK, with devastating floods in the West  Midlands in January and torrential downpours  submerging London Underground stations  earlier this summer."

Net Bio Diversity Gain 

A government take

What the metric is for

You can use the biodiversity metric to calculate how a development, or a change in land management, will change the biodiversity value of a site. For example, building houses, planting a woodland or sowing a wildflower meadow.

You can use the metric to:

  • assess the biodiversity unit value of an area of land
  • demonstrate biodiversity net gains or losses in a consistent way
  • measure and account for direct impacts on biodiversity
  • compare proposals for a site - such as creating or enhancing habitat on-site or off-site

It can help you design, plan and make land management decisions that take better account of biodiversity. You should use the metric and calculator tool with ecological advice.

The metric calculates the values as ‘biodiversity units’. Biodiversity units are calculated using the size of the habitat, its quality and location. Interesting video on Bio Net Gain

A Planning Indusry View

Wealden District Council and the Climate Emergency

A Planning Indusry View

 Lichfields 

Time to panic? Planning and the climate emergency

"Climate Change is now recognised as one of the most – if not the most – significant challenges to be facing the global population. In this country, the planning system has been identified as having a major role in tackling this emergency and assisting in our national contribution to address issues affecting the wider planet. With COP26 now having drawn to a close, it is time to reflect on where we are and whether more can or needs to be done to meet the challenge of Net Zero Carbon by 2050."

Housing Delivery Test Results 2020/2021

A Natural England View

A Natural England View

A Planning Indusry View

Natural England 

Bio Diversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain – more than just a number

Climate Change

 "Climate change is a threat to the species and wild places we love, but if we look after nature better, we can also reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and build the resilience of people and nature."

Further Information

A Natural England View

What can we do to HELP

 Nature Positive 2030 

Hedgerows

State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2021

Ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees: protecting them from development

Planners’ Manual for Ancient 

Woodland and Veteran Trees


What can we do to HELP

A Natural England View

What can we do to HELP

A resident's view will be added shortly.

Treatment Works 2010

Download PDF

Southern Water

Document File

Southern Water - East Sussex - Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP)

DWMP Investment Needs

 Bexhill and Hastings  -  Eastbourne - Hailsham North - Hailsham South

Generic options screening

 Bexhill and Hastings  -  Eastbourne - Hailsham North -  Hailsham South

Maps

Bexhill and Hastings  -  Eastbourne - Hailsham North -  Hailsham South

Key Documents

PR19 final determinations: Southern Water – Outcomes performance commitment

IAP response executive summary

Baseline Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Investment Areas


Downloads

briefing-note-for-lpas-on-infrastructure-provision (pdf)Download

Various Links

PropTech Engagement Fund

Video of online event 20th July 2022

State of the County 2022

Focus on East Sussex

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Please note a lot of councillors positions will change from the 24th May when the full council votes on the new council going forward all new members can be seen here 


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