Category: Neighbourhood Plan

(The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 – (Regulation 16) and Localism Act 2011)

The subject matter: East Grinstead Neighbourhood Plan

Details: East Grinstead Town Council has prepared a neighbourhood development plan for the town and surrounding countryside. The Plan seeks to identify sites for housing, and recreational land, whilst regenerating the town centre.

Inspection: Copies of the East Grinstead Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents are available to view on our website: http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/planning-licensing-building-control/planning-policy/neighbourhood-plans/east-grinstead-neighbourhood-plan/. Hard copies of the plan are available for inspection at the Mid Sussex District Council offices, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS and from East Grinstead Town Council.

Representations: If you would like to make representations, please send them to neighbourhoodplans@midsussex.gov.uk or to Planning Policy and Economic Development, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS. A representations form is available on our website and at locations identified for hard copy inspection. Please be aware that all comments received will be publicly available and may be included on our website. The consultation runs from 03rd February 2016 to 16th March 2016.

Notification: Any representations may include a request to be notified regarding the decision under Regulation 19 (decision on making a plan) to make the submitted neighbourhood development plan for East Grinstead. Planning Policy, Mid Sussex District Council Dated: 3rd February 2016

THE EAST GRINSTEAD DRAFT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN, HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL. At a Special Council meeting on Monday 14th December the Council approved the plan and charged the District Council to check the plan for conformity and launch the next stage of consultation to lead to examination.

The Plan which has 16 policies and 8 site specific policies was consulted on in the autumn. 165 individual responses were received and have been considered. The Plan with minor changes taking in to account these comments is now submitted to Mid Sussex to complete the process.

Cllr Rex Whittaker, Chairman of the Steering group said that “East Grinstead needed a plan, deserved and plan and in 2016 would finally get that plan” He paid tribute to the many members of the public who have helped at the various stages to get the plan ready for submission, by giving comments, answering questions and attending workshops.

Following the consultation of the plan at Mid Sussex, the plan if unaltered will continue to independent examination and then be subject to a public referendum. If adopted by the public vote it will then become part of the planning legislative framework for East Grinstead.

Following agreement at Council on 11th November 2015, Mid Sussex District Council is publishing a schedule of Focused Amendments to the Pre-Submission Draft District Plan, along with a Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment for public consultation.

The Schedule of Modifications, plus accompanying updated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment are available to view at www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan . Updates to the evidence base, including the Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) can also be viewed on this page.

Paper copies of the schedule and response forms are also available at libraries, Help Points, the District Council offices, and Town and Parish Council offices.

The consultation period lasts six weeks; the deadline for all responses is midnight on Thursday 31st December 2015.

Comments can be submitted:
Online: www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan
Email: LDFConsultation@midsussex.gov.uk
Post: Planning Policy and Economic Development, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS

All comments will be public information, and will be submitted to an independent planning inspector as part of the public examination of the District Plan, alongside all representations received during the Pre-Submission Draft District Plan consultation held in June/July this year.

If you made representations on the Pre-Submission Draft District Plan during June/July 2015, there is no need to resubmit them during this representation period as your original representations will be submitted to the planning inspector. However, you may wish to alter or withdraw your representation in the light of the amendments made.

For further information on the District Plan, please contact the Planning Policy and Economic Development teamat planningpolicy@midsussex.gov.uk or 01444 477053.

Natural England has written to local District Councils to confirm its continued support for a 7km protection zone around Ashdown Forest.

Ashdown Forest is internationally recognised for its special environment of habitats and bird life. It is designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Although Ashdown Forest lies outside the Mid Sussex boundary, it is extremely close to the border and any housing development on nearby land in Mid Sussex could have an impact on the forest. To help reduce the potential effects of new house building on the forest, developers in Mid Sussex face additional restrictions if they seek to build within a 7km zone around Ashdown Forest. Potential developers are required to make financial contributions to visitor management at the forest and towards the provision of suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) to reduce visitor pressure on the habitat.

A recent Court of Appeal decision overturned Wealden District Council’s planning policy on the 7km zone because the Court concluded that there had been insufficient consideration of alternative strategies to protect the Forest from visitor disturbance.

However, Natural England continues to support the way Mid Sussex District Council is using a 7km zone around Ashdown Forest to determine current planning applications and recommends its inclusion as a policy in the Mid Sussex District Plan.

Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Cabinet Member for Planning, commented

“I know some people have been confused by the implications of the Court of Appeal decision so we are really grateful to Natural England, as the experts on these matters, for making it clear that it continues to support the 7km zone.

“We have considered different ways of protecting Ashdown Forest from increased visitor numbers and agree with Natural England that a 7km protection zone is the right strategy. Our planning officers continue to work on this issue, so that we further strengthen our evidence base on the alternative strategies and ensure that our District Plan is legally robust”.

For more information, contact the Mid Sussex District Council Planning Policy team on 01444 477053.