Council announces plan for new homes

The proposed Core Strategy, to guide what Rother will look like in 15 years time, has been backed by key councillors.

The document contains plans for 3,700 to 4,100 new homes to be built across the district up to 2028.

On Monday, Rother District Council’s cabinet considered the final draft of the ‘Core Strategy’ for the area – the planning document that will guide future development and change for towns and rural areas.

It also contains policies for key topics such as the economy, environment and communities.

This is a lower number than identified in the South East Plan, but the level of development proposed is more reflective of the aspirations of communities within Rother as well as the capacity of individual towns and villages for sustainable growth.

As well as housing development, there are also plans to make more business land available to help stimulate job creation.

The Core Strategy supports construction of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road to achieve the full potential for regeneration and growth, but also sets out how plans would be amended if delays were to happen.

Critically important to many cabinet members was a reassurance that any delay would not result in more development being allocated to the smaller towns and villages. The Core Strategy will now go to full council on 27 June, along with cabinet’s comments.

Public consultation will follow in August and September – this will be advertised across the district and anyone who commented previously will be notified by the council.