Hastings Local Plan Draft Local Plan Preferred Options (Regulation 18)

Appendices Comment

Appendix 1: Key Evidence Base Items Comment

There are a number of key pieces of evidence that are referred to frequently throughout the plan. These include:

Biodiversity and Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy (2022): The Biodiversity and Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy identifies a robust GBI network across Hastings that reflects current GBI assets, and key priorities to increase their resilience.

Densification and Capacity Study (2026): This study puts forward evidence-based conclusions to where and how much densification is appropriate.

Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Needs Assessment (2022): This study provides a summary of accommodation need for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in respect of both their permanent and transit needs for pitches/plots over the study period.

Hastings and Rother Playing Pitch and Built Facilities Study (2023): This joint strategy for Hastings and Rother was produced in line with Sport England’s latest guidance and is the follow-on document to the Rother and Hastings Playing Pitch Strategy 2016 and the Leisure Facilities Strategy 2009-2020.

Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA): The HEDNA (2024) has been prepared jointly with Rother District Council. Its purpose is to assess future development needs up to 2040 for housing (both market and affordable) and employment across the Hastings and Rother area, to inform the preparation of the two Authorities’ emerging Local Plans. The document does not set the housing target for local authorities but provides the evidence to inform its starting position. The HEDNA has been produced in line with national Planning Practice Guidance[103].

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) (2024): The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment provides information on all sources of flood risk in Hastings.

Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) (2025): The SHELAA assesses the development potential of sites for housing and economic land across the borough and consider whether they are suitable, available and achievable for development.

Strategic Open Space and Play Assessment and Audit (2020): This document identifies current quantity and quality of open space and play spaces within the borough and sets quantity and quality standards for future provision.