Bexhill Town Profile - Rother District Council

likely to have significant implications. Transport Needs Assessments
including travel plans are required.
Development Interests
4.13 Developer interests considered Option 1 is the best despite the potential
delays in the delivery of the Link Road. The Home Builders Federation
supports Option 3 and feels that Greenfield development is the option which
would provide greatest opportunity for improving competitiveness with the
rest of East Sussex and Kent. There was further support for Option 3
through improving retail opportunities and leisure facilities.
Environmental Groups and Community Bodies
4.14 Rye Conservation Society supports Option 3, however, preserving the
recognised strategic gaps between the two settlements as far as possible.
Bexhill and District Garden and Allotment Society think that Rother should
be left largely unchanged as represents requirements on quality of life.
They believe that conserving the countryside and strictly controlling
development is not compatible with new development, highways and
businesses.
4.15 The National Trust supported a strategy that focuses development in Bexhill
(and Hastings) with restricted development elsewhere. The Forestry
Commission stated there should be no damage to ancient woodlands in
considering growth options. Rother Voluntary Action sees Option 3 as the
most realistic but includes the ambitions of Options 2.
Businesses
4.16 Business interests put forward that greenfield development should not be
limited to north and North West Bexhill and consideration should be given to
development south of the A259. Wm. Morrison Supermarkets Plc believes
that because of Bexhill’s character and influencing factors development
Option 3 would be most appropriate.
Individuals
4.17 Individual representations generally saw Option 3 as the most
advantageous due the location of the link road. Allowing smaller
development at Bexhill will retain its character. On the other, hand another
individual thinks the land west of Bexhill identified in options 1 and 2 has a
role in delivering the strategy as a major strategic development as part of a
wider strategy including strategic infrastructure, or as a smaller stand alone
development, or both.
4.18 Objectives for Bexhill have evolved since the Local Plan, such as looking at
ways to widen the appeal of the town and strengthen the economic base.
Regarding the economy, environment, transport and overall distribution of
development, the emerging Strategy responds to points raised insofar as
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