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Comment

Development Management Plan Focused Consultation 6th July - 17th Aug 2012

Representation ID: 3595

Received: 03/08/2012

Representation Summary:

St Leonards Motors broadly support the Plan's stance in Greater Hollington, and would request that any development involving change of use(Motors delerships being Sui Gneris) would be supported due to the ammenity needs of one of the most populus areas and the need for further employment in the Hastings area.

Full text:

St Leonards Motors Ltd were one of the major developers in this area and introduced two retail car dealerships and a large bodyshop into this area, along with a significant number of jobs. We applaud your noting the fact that imagination should be used to blend retail, commercial and residential, and note that this is one of the largest areas of population that is covered with one of the lowest retail facilities in the town.

The motor industry has changed beyond all recognition over the last 20 years, and from having over 30 individual franchise dealership in the Hastings area there are now only half a dozen or so. SLM are under increasingly greater pressure to review our activity, both commercially and by our business partners. This may well involve consolidating our businesses into fewer sites, but employing broadly the same number of people. With car dealerships being covered by Sui Generis planning classifications, we may well look to apply for change to A1, or any of the B classificatiosn, of which there are many existing precidents at this time and would look to the council to support this move. A1 currently employes significantly more people per square foot than any of the local B grade alternatives, and we would hope and expect that any future plan would recognise the need to be flexible with Sui Generis changes, which would seem to suit the text in this document and underline the national stance to encourage viable job rich developments.