140 homes coming to Battle?

Rother District Council's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) indicates potential sites for housing, both over the next five years and up to 2026, as required by the Government.

Land for minor developments has been identified off Sunnyrise and Virgins Lane in Battle, but land at Glengorse, running behind Tesco Express, would take the majority of the proposed housing.

The decision goes against pleas from Battle Town Council not to earmark any site at that end of town for major development.

When councillors were consulted on potential areas for development 18 months ago, they argued that any such developments would greatly increase traffic coming into the town.

They told Rother they would prefer any developments to be focused on the North Trade Road end, meaning less people would be coming through the town centre to get to schools.

But Rother says the Glengorse development is close to the railway line and within a short walking distance of the town centre.

This means, the council says, less cars will be used to get into the town centre than if a large development was built near North Trade Road.

Battle Town Council also said it was against any new developments until the completion of the Blackfriars estate, in order to see what impact it will have on the town's infrastructure.

However there is good news for the town as unpopular proposals to develop land between Battle and Hastings, pulling the two towns closer together, has been ruled out, after Hastings Borough Council changed its plans for developments close to the Beauport roundabout.

Battle Town Council's planning committee will discuss the report at Wednesday's meeting and it will be before full council on April 20.

Other areas in the district which have been earmarked as potential development sites include land off the A21 at Robertsbridge and Hurst Green, A28 at Westfield, Brede Lane at Sedlescombe and Cricketers Field in Staplecross.

But Rother District Council has stressed the plan is not a statement of council policy, but a technical assessment required by Government to inform the council's Local Development Framework.

A large number of sites were considered across the district, and many were ruled out.

Sites that are in the SHLAA will be subject to more detailed investigations by Rother.

Only the most appropriate sites will be proposed for development, the council says.

Public consultation on site development will begin later in the year, following consultation on the council's proposed overall 'Core Strategy' for the district, which is due in September/October.

The SHLAA is available to view on the council's website at www.rother.gov.uk and at its Community Help Points in Battle, Rye and Bexhill.