About the WDC Local Plan withdrawn

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 Wealden District Council will vote on 19th February to withdraw the WDC Local Plan.  
This is following an adverse report by the UK Gov't Planning Inspector, Louise Nurser BA (Hons) Dip UP MRTPI.    
Here is an extract from WDC's response to the Inspector ...  

 'The Council is disappointed with your conclusions concerning the failure on the Duty to Co-operate and that you consider our approach to the air quality issues within the Habitats Regulations Assessment was not justified and lacking in “scientific credibility”... I can inform you that the Council will not be challenging the outcome contained in your letter, nor will we require a further detailed report.  We will be recommending the withdrawal of the WLP at our Full Council meeting on 19 February 2020. Yours sincerely Isabel Garden Director & Deputy Chief Executive Planning, Policy & Environmental Services ' 

The  WDC Local Plan recognised that over 50% of the Wealden District is  taken up with protected landscapes of the AONB and Pevensey Levels plus  there is need to protect the Ashdown Forest Secial Area of Conservation  from the effects of rising Nitrous Oxide levels which would increase  with more housing and traffic movements.

The  Plan stated that 14,228 houses would be built for the period 2013 to  2028  with the majority of the development in  allocated sites in the  Hailsham, Stone Cross and Polegate areas (designated the South Wealden  Growth Area) but proposed minimal infrastructure  improvements to  accommodate the level of growth.
The Ashdown Forest Special Area of Conservation and the Pevensey Levels  as well as the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty were all  laid down in the plan as being areas which should be protected from the  development and its environmental and ecological effects.
 

There  was much in the Plan for Wealden residents to feel reassured about. But  there was uncertainty about how WDC would implemet their Plan and  whether they would honour their committment specifically for Heathfield  to protect the AONB espcially the Vines Corner fields.  Conflicts of  information in the Plan and in the SHELAA text regarding Suitable and  Unsuitable Sites for Development further contributed to uncertainty.

All  things considered we hoped that the WDC PLan would be given the green  light by the Insector - because withdrawal of the Plan would lead much  greater risk and uncertainty.

However...  by the time that the WDC Local Plan was being examined by the Gov't  Inspector in May 2019 it became  apparent that landowners, developers  and other  Councils (Eastbourne, Lewes, South Downs National Park and  Tunbridge  Wells) were all driving for a considerable increase in the  number of houses to be built in the Wealden District. 

The WDC Local Plan (withdrawn) proposed a total of 14,228 homes for Wealden to be built at 950 per year.

A new Local Plan would be almost certain to propose a total of over 20,000 homes for Wealden to be built at 1250 per year.

The potential impact of a new plan is that  WDC could require Heathfield and Waldron to deliver many more homes  than the 400 required in the WDC Local Plan withdrawn.

Time is also a major issue. It will take years for WDC to build a new plan (based on the last taking 5 years to produce).

During that time the only documents which can relied upon for determining planning applications are the adopted plan for Wealden1998 and the Wealden Core Strategy dated 2013. 

Whether these will carry great weight in planning decisions and appeals remains to be tested. 

 In the meantime - developers will be keen to capitalise on WDC’s weakened position - and without a current Local Plan and their lack of a 5 Year Housing Land Supply - we can expect to see more applications for housing developments

Developers may not be looking consider local communities wants and needs and they will no doubt feel confident to challenge WDC and Appeal any applications which may be refused.

A Neighbourhood Plan for Heathfield & Waldron is now vital.