Issues and Options Consultation

September 2014

ANeighbourhood

Plan for Hartfield Parish

PlansA Neighbourhood Plan

Our vision and local planning policies Housing, Business and Employment, Tourism,

Conservation Area, Community Facilities, Parish Assets

Identify any new uses of land or buildings by 2027

Wealden and National Planning PolicySimple majority vote - Statutory force once

adopted

A Community Plan Follow on from Parish Plan 2008Things we want to do as a Community

Not “planning”

“Issues and Options”Consultation Agenda

Vision Business & Tourism Policies Design Conservation Area Community facilities survey / Community

organisations Housing survey “Issues and Options”

Too few small houses in the parish? Planning policy approaches? Do we build more? If so, where?

Assets of Community Value - which might benefit from “protection” in Neighbourhood Plan?

Neighbourhood Plan Schedule

Neighbourhood Plan – Vision: Themes from April Consultation

“A vibrant, thriving, sustainable, invigorated community with local

facilities (shops, pubs, school, sports facilities, post office and a bus

service), as well as a diverse range of housing and business units,”

“A parish where young people want to and are able to afford to live or

move into with jobs to keep them here/help them stay here and activities

for them to participate in”

“A parish incorporating and surrounded by a beautiful, green,

well-protected environment”

“A distinct and independent village/parish”

Neighbourhood PlanBusiness and Tourism Policies

Proposed Policy 1 - "Evolutionary and organic growth" and "Vitality"

Premises need to adapt as a business grows or changes in response to changing markets or working practices.

Proposed Policy 2 - Sustainable tourism Overall the parish benefits from tourism. We support

sustainable tourism (e.g. using public transport) and activities appropriate to our rural setting.

Proposed Policy 3 - "Brown field" development There are sufficient existing commercial and farm unit sites in

the Parish to meet business development needs without developing new green field sites. We support Local Plan policies that encourage larger businesses requiring the facilities of an industrial park to relocate to a nearby town.

Proposed Policy 4 - Protection of the Ashdown Forest Interpretation of the 7km Ashdown Forest Special Protection

Area should support the sustainable development necessary to ensure the vitality of our community.

Neighbourhood PlanDesign PolicyProposed Policy – Design and "Green"

developmentNew development affecting the Hartfield

Conservation Area should use traditional design and materials.

We are open to contemporary designs with environment-friendly features in other parts of the parish .

Neighbourhood PlanConservation Area• Strong demand to

retain existing conservation area boundary.

• Majority against designating additional conservation areas in the parish.

• No changes proposed• Volunteers to provide

input to review by Wealden District Council

Neighbourhood PlanCommunity FacilitiesApril 2014 questionnaire responses to Community Facilities

Survey Demonstrated strong support for existing facilitiesDid not demonstrate a majority in favour of providing a

site or sites for any new facilities.A majority wished to see existing facilities maintained or

improvedSeveral community organisations identified shortfalls in

funding

ProposalsNo site allocationPart of Community Infrastructure Levy to be used to

support existing community facilities

Neighbourhood PlanCommunity Infrastructure Levy (CIL)Levy is paid by developers granted planning consentPart passed on to Hartfield Parish3 proposals so far:

Financial support to existing community facilities – specific requests from Village Hall and St Mary the Virgin church but there will be others

Provision of high speed broadband across the whole parish – if not delivered by current East Sussex County Council project.

Promotion of local business through a Business Directory or Business Association

Neighbourhood PlanAiRS Housing Needs SurveyHousing Needs Survey completed by 201 householdsAffordable Housing:

61.1% in favour of small developments of affordable housing for local people

18 respondents identified a need for affordable housingHousing for rent at Castlefield / Mottefield / Old Crown

Farm / Station Cottages and almshouses at Newbridge and Holtye

Consider additional provision on a “shared ownership” basis

Housing for sale or rental on the open market:Shortage of smaller properties for starter homes or

those downsizing30 respondents identified a need for open market

housing53.1% in favour of small developments

Neighbourhood PlanDo we address the need?Do we want to address these shortages?

Do nothing? … orUse existing – subdivision or removal of constraints on

annexesPermitted development rights for agricultural building

conversions Identify small sites for “new build” – brownfield / infill

or close to existing development – “pepper potting” If we want new build, where should this be?

Landowners approachedSpecific sites offered as options

Affordable housingSmall houses for sale or rentOr both

Need “yes” or “no” to principal and to specific sites

Neighbourhood PlanAssets of Community ValuePrevious consultation identified assets we

consider importantSome already publicly ownedWhich privately owned assets do you consider

sufficiently important to be offered to the community for purchase before being offered for sale on the open market?

Neighbourhood PlanSchedule• December 2014: Draft of Neighbourhood Plan

published to incorporate the specific proposals that can gain majority support. • Including evidence base , analysis of conformance

with planning policy and Strategic Environmental Assessment.

• March 2015: Planning Inspector publishes review of draft plan document.

• April 2015: Updates and amendments made , published as final Neighbourhood Plan.

• 7th May 2015: NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN REFERENDUM

Neighbourhood PlanWe need your views• Please fill in a form• All opinions are valid• We can only take forward proposals

that can win majority support

Neighbourhood Plan