Bexhill Town Profile - Rother District Council

Section 7 Strategy for Development
Objectives
7.1 The ‘Consultation on Strategy Directions’ reviewed the growth potential of
Bexhill. It highlighted the main considerations bearing on the development
strategy as being:
a) recognition of Bexhill’s status as the largest town and main service centre
in the district;
b) the need for economic regeneration and improved job opportunities in the
town and the wider area;
c) the social/community objectives contained in the Vision;
d) transport capacity;
e) maintaining the distinct identity and character of the town;
f) environmental and other planning factors that apply to particular locations.
Scale of Growth
7.2 Previous consultation was on the basis of some 3,100-3,300 net additional
dwellings between 2006-2026. This was regarded as consistent with the
opportunities for growth relative to the other towns, in order to achieve the
South East Plan target.
7.3 However, as explained in the ‘Housing Provision in Rother District’
Background Paper, the South East Plan target was formulated at a time
when the Link Road was due to have been built by now. This delay in the
construction of the Link Road is critical in two respects:
1) It is required, both directly and indirectly, to release land for both significant
employment and housing development;
2) It has implications for the rate at which economic growth is likely.
The Link Road and Development Potential
7.4 The Highways Agency has previously advised that any significant new
development will create undue pressure on the strategic road network
without additional capacity. It viewed the Link Road as potentially providing
this capacity. The County Council, as local highway authority, has
indicated that it considers the Link Road to be critical to accommodate
additional traffic on the local road network without undue congestion.
7.5 Traffic modelling of the level of growth advocated in the ‘Consultation on
Strategy Directions’ tends to confirm this general position, as it shows
congestion widening out at certain points the network, notably along the
A259 corridor, by 2016 without the Link Road.
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