Section One - Introduction

Background

1.1 Hastings Borough Council is in the process of producing a series of documents that will guide the future planning of the town. Together, these documents form the new Hastings Local Plan.

1.2 The Hastings Planning Strategy was adopted in February 2014. This is the overarching strategic document that provides a long-term plan to deliver regeneration and sustainable growth in the town over the next 15 years.

(1) 1.3 This document is the final version of the Development Management Plan – the second key document prepared as part of the Local Plan process. Its purpose is to set out clear policies to help shape the design and construction of new development, and to allocate sites to deliver the overarching policies in the Planning Strategy. It therefore shares the same strategic objectives as the Planning Strategy, which are:

Objective 1: Achieve and sustain a thriving economy

Objective 2: Ensure everyone has the opportunity to live in a decent home, which they can afford, in a community in which they want to live

Objective 3: Safeguard and improve the town’s environment

Objective 4: Addressing the impacts of climate change

Objective 5: Supporting sustainable communities

Objective 6: Provisionofanefficientandeffectivetransportsystem

Objective 7: Making best use of the Seafront and promoting tourism

What have we done so far?

1.4 We have already gone through several stages of preparation and consultation in developing this final version of the Development Management Plan.

Early engagement

1.5 Early and informal public consultation was undertaken in 2010 as part of the “Big Map” exercise. This helped to identify issues and opportunities concerned with potential sites for development in the town, to feed into the drafting of the document itself. A report on how the consultation was undertaken and the comments received is available at http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/the_big_map/

The draft Development Management Plan

1.6 We consulted on a draft Development Management Plan during February and April 2012. This built on earlier consultation as part of the Big Map exercise, and contained ‘rough draft’ suggested policies and options to help facilitate debate, and to help determine which options to proceed with.

1.7 Between July and August 2012, we undertook a ‘focused’ consultation on some additional sites and policy issues that had not previously been consulted upon. Comments were invited on these additional sites and policies only.

1.8 The Proposed Submission version of the Development Management Plan, was published between January and April 2013. Representations received during the proposed submission consultation will continue to be submitted to the Secretary of State as part of the Examination exercise unless those making the representation request otherwise. The majority of the Revised Proposed Submission Development Management Plan remains the same as it was for the January-April 2013 consultation. We have made some changes in the light of further advice and some of the representations received. The most significant change is to add specific policies to each allocated site for greater clarity. Some new sites have been included because they have been granted planning permission in the intervening time and some sites have been removed because they have been completed. We have also reviewed the deliverability of all site and some changes have been made in the light of this. A summary of the significant changes to the Plan since it was published in January 2013 are set out in the table of changes at Appendix D of this Revised Proposed Submission document.

1.9 The main issues raised from all prior consultations, initial officer level responses to them and how those comments have been taken into account are set out in the Consultation Statement that accompanies this Revised Proposed Submission Development Management Plan.

Where are we now?

1.10 This is what the Council consider to be the final version of the Development Management Plan, called the “Revised Proposed Submission Development Management Plan.” It brings together all the previous stages of consultation and draft documents into one final version of the Plan, which will be submitted to the Government for approval in July 2014. This is accompanied by a Policies Map which shows the spatial extent of the Policies and is available to view at the Community Contact Centre, Queens Square, Hastings or online via http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/consultation/

1.11 We are re-consulting at this stage due to the delays encountered in adopting the Planning Strategy, and the need to ensure that this document remains in general conformity with it. We have also taken this opportunity to update research to ensure our evidence base is as comprehensive as possible.

1.12 Please note that comments submitted at the previous “Proposed Submission Stage” (consulted on between January and April 2013) will be taken forward and submitted to the Inspector, unless you confirm that you would like these withdrawn. You can confirm withdrawal of your original representation by writing to or emailing us using the details below.

What can I comment on?

1.13 You are now invited to submit formal representations that focus on the “Soundness” and “Legal Compliance” of the Development Management Plan (prescribed by government guidance), rather than general comments on the wording of policies. Detailed guidance notes are available to explain these terms and help to ensure that your representation is submitted correctly and sent on to the independent Planning Inspector for consideration at an Examination in Public.

1.14 The guidance notes and other helpful information are available on our consultation pages at http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/consultation/

(6) The consultation

1.15 This consultation is running for a period of 6 weeks, from 10 March until 4.30pm on 22 April 2014. Representations can be submitted at any point during this period.

1.16 As this is a formal stage of consultation, representations must be made using the official response form or through our online consultation system. Comments made in any other format cannot be accepted.

Online - The easiest way to submit representations is online. Visit our website at http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/consultation/ and follow the links provided.

Paper forms – paper copies of our response form are available from our Community Contact Centre, Queens Square, Hastings, or can be downloaded from the website using the address above. These should be sent to:

Hastings Borough Council
Planning Policy
FREEPOST RSCG-BSTS-GBRZ
Aquila House, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY

Email: fplanning@hastings.gov.uk

1.17 Please note that all representations submitted will be made public. This will include publication of your name but not your address or contact details.

1.18 Further information and updates will also be posted on Twitter and Facebook to help ensure you stay up to date with the process:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ShapingHastings
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shapinghastings

What happens next?

1.19 Your formal representations will be passed to an independent Inspector who will conduct a public examination into the legal compliance and soundness of the document. This is expected to commence in November 2014. The Inspector will then issue a report with recommendations that will be considered by Council. We intend to adopt the Development Management Plan in November 2015.

Confused by the process?

1.20 We have done our best to keep jargon and technical terms to a minimum, and a glossary of terms is provided in Section Six. If you would like further clarification, please contact us on 01424 451098 and we will try to help.

1.21 You can find further information about the Development Management Plan and the wider Local Plan process by looking on our website at: http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/

Spreading the word

1.22 We have made every effort to inform local people, businesses and organisations about this consultation. It has been advertised through local newspapers, direct mail outs and posters, although we would be grateful if you would help spread the word too. If you know someone who is interested in these issues, please encourage them to submit formal representations.

Structure of this document

1.23 The remainder of this document is set out as follows:

Section Two - General and Development Management Guidance

1.24 This section is divided into five parts:

Part i) Overall Approach

Part ii) General Guidance Policies – general policies considered in the assessment of planning applications, covering design, access, ground conditions and more

Part iii) Housing and the Community Policies – covering issues such as the conversion of houses and community facilities

Part iv) Historic and Natural Environment Policies – identifying areas in the town based on their historic or nature conservation importance or value

Part v) Economic Policies – aimed at protecting retailing, employment and other economic activities.

Section Three – Site Allocations

1.25 Section Three of this document sets out individual site policies for sites that have been identified to meet our overall housing and employment needs. These are organised by Planning Focus Area¹. A brief description of the site is followed by a site policy which includes policies from the Hastings Planning Strategy and the Development Management Plan, which will be of particular relevance to the identified site. This is not, however, an exhaustive list of applicable policies, because that will depend on the type of scheme proposed.

Section Four – Monitoring and Implementation

1.26 The monitoring and implementation section shows how we will monitor the effectiveness of the Development Management Plan in delivering its objectives by assessing its performance against a series of indicators.

Section Five - Appendices

1.27 There are four appendices:

Appendix A: Site Design Briefs
For some of the larger or more complex site allocations, there are more detailed maps to add detail to the words in the main body of this document. They illustrate how the site might be planned and managed to find solutions to identified issues.

Appendix B: Superseded Policies
Tables showing how the policies of this Plan will supersede those of the Hastings Local Plan 2004.

Appendix C: Indices of policies
This is a list of all the policies included in the Planning Strategy and the Development Management Plan for reference.

Appendix D: Significant changes since publication in January 2013
Since the proposed submission version of the Development Management Plan was published for consultation in January 2013, several changes have been made to ensure the Plan is as succinct and clear as possible. To help you consider whether your original representation still stands, or whether your concerns have been addressed, we have created a table in Section Five that shows how the Plan has changed over the past year.

The evidence base and supporting documents

1.28 We are required to prepare supporting documents that demonstrate how the principles of sustainability have been taken into account in the development of the final version of the Plan. This is set out in a separate Sustainability Appraisal Report.

1.29 It is also important that we have a substantial and robust evidence base to support the policies presented in the final plan.

1.30 The Sustainability Appraisal of the Revised Submission Version of the Development Management Plan is available on our website at: http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/consultation/
Full details of the evidence base are also available at: http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/planning/localplan/documents/

(70) Policies Map

There is a map to support the Development Management Plan.
Click to view the Revised Proposed Submission Development Management Plan Policies Map
If you wish to make a comment about the map please click on the pencil icon next to this paragraph.

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¹ Planning Focus Areas were introduced by the Planning Strategy. They are areas where there is an identifiable community or where landscape or function means that they make a logical area for area-based planning. To see the boundaries of the focus areas please see Chapter 4 of the Planning Strategy.