PROGRESS FOR SUSSEX
‘Smart-growth’- forward-thinking development that ensures the environment is resilient and able to absorb the demands we place on it is the way forward to make meaningful progress.
Our philosophy looks to enhance and protect valued countryside, unlock brownfield land and link sustainable transport with the regeneration of towns and villages as healthy, distinctive, vibrant places to live and work.
Key commitment:
We believe in a holistic vision for town and country, ensuring our environment is resilient, liberating brownfield sites for regeneration, promoting high quality design, excellent environmental standards and maintaining a unique sense of place.
91% of respondents agreed that -
“Previously developed brownfield sites should be re-used first, in preference to building on green-fields.”
You said: “I would also suggest that when a property developer has a land bank of brownfield land, he should be compelled by law to develop such sites before applications for green-field land can even be put on the table.”
Planning Fact:
The new National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) promotes brownfield sites before green-field but more must be done to unlock brownfield for development.
We welcome the NPPG statement that Councils should apply strict national flood risk tests, refusing development if not met.
Ideally in practice, authorities will be enabled to work with, not against, nature.
COUNTRYSIDE FOR EVERYONE
Genuinely affordable housing is a priority; backed by communities, provided by Community Land
Trusts, local co-operatives and housing associations. Sprawling ‘clone’ developments with squeezed down affordable housing are a serious failure to invest in our future.
Truly affordable housing integrated and in character with settlements is the way forward.
Key commitment:
We believe that in rural areas genuinely affordable housing by local providers, in tune with the character of villages and towns, should be prioritised over sprawling market housing developments in the countryside.
79% agreed that -
“Support for affordable housing delivered by local providers should be prioritised over new market housing in rural Sussex.”
You said: “I can’t see my daughter being able to afford a house in our village and she may want to remain in here when she is older. Therefore a few small affordable homes could be sensitively developed.”
Planning Facts:
Under the NPPG authorities must allocate more sites if housing becomes less affordable in an area.
However, we fear unless Government and Planning Inspectors have real understanding of local area needs this will lead to even more expensive market housing building on the edges of villages.
ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
The countryside is there for us all, prized for its massive environmental, social and economic importance.
Visitors become attached to special places while local people know and love their areas, and think long term, well beyond the short-termism characterised by the current ‘business as usual’ approach.
We all have a responsibility to look after our countryside and to use our voices as active citizens to protect it for now and in the future.
Key commitment:
Local people think for the longer term and should have a strong voice, for futureproofed decision making which meets positive development needs, in the right place, with excellent design and environmental standards.
90% agreed that:
“Local people should be given a strong voice to ensure that development needs are met in the right place, sensitively located, with excellent environmental standards and high quality design.”
You said: “Whilst agreeing with a ‘bottom up’ approach to planning, the debate at a local level is still, largely at a ‘nimby’ level.”
Planning Fact:
Too many Ministerial decisions favour developers rather than local communities when recognising constraints for development.
However, welcome words in the new NPPG allow local authorities to set more realistic house building targets based on local constraints, but it will allow barn conversions without planning permission.
Setting no criteria on affordability or sustainability of location could be damaging. The loss of agricultural buildings for food production is also a concern. We welcome that conversions in National Parks and AONBs will not be allowed.
NEW SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP
The countryside is there for us all, so long as we protect and cherish it for our own and future generations.
We must look to a ‘new sense of stewardship’, working smarter to deliver our needs while respecting the land vital for our health and wellbeing.
Key commitment:
Environmental Stewardship schemes to support farmers to nurture biodiversity and protect the environment should be strengthened and enhanced.
87% agreed:
“EU Environmental Stewardship schemes to support farmers to nurture biodiversity and protect the environment should be continued and enhanced.”
You said: “It is vital that we support farmers to help nature flourish on their farms. We have already missed our target to halt biodiversity loss, so it’s essential we help farmers be wildlife-friendly.”
Planning Fact
The government have cut farming stewardship funding in favour of production, a backward step.
We aim to complete work on the Charter by May 2014 so please let us know what you think.
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Photo: © Digitalesse