Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Colin Swansborough

(Key decision):

(1) To note the summary of the plan-making process that is outlined in the report

(2) To note the risks in delaying the preparation of a ‘sound’ local plan

(3) To note the initial summary of the main issues arising from the Growth Strategy consultation

(4) To note the Full Council agreement that the Fisherman’s Green site should be withdrawn from the Growth Strategy as the site is no longer available.

(5) To agree that any further public consultation into the Eastbourne Local Plan is paused until all evidence on potential allocation sites is sought, available and assessed.

(6) To agree to receive the Regulation 19‘Proposed Submission’ draft local plan late 2023, early 2024.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, that provided a summary of the plan-making process, identified the main issues arising from the recent public consultation and outlined the next steps in the preparation of the Eastbourne Local Plan.

Visiting member, Councillor Smart, addressed the Cabinet on this item.

It was acknowledged that the Council’s Local Plan would deliver several priorities, not just the delivery of new homes. This included the transitioning to delivery of new carbon neutral & environmentally friendly homes, help to maintain the heritage environment, encourage cycling, and use of public transport, enhance the biodiversity of public and open spaces and efficient processing of planning applications.

Following the Full Council motion on 22 February 2023, where it was resolved that the Fisherman’s Green site be withdrawn from the draft Local Plan, the Head of Planning advised that significant work was ongoing to gather sufficient evidence for the removal of other sensitive sites. Full Council would have the opportunity to decide on the inclusion of any sensitive sites in the ‘Proposed Submission’ local plan at Regulation 19 stage, once all the evidence and information had been gathered and presented. The current Local Development Scheme anticipated that this would be presented by the end of 2023/early 2024.

The Head of Planning advised that there were strong reasons why the local housing need target of 738 homes per year could not be met. Based on an initial assessment and factoring in the removal of the Fisherman’s Green site, the Growth Strategy indicated a potential capacity to accommodate 316 homes per year (less than half the housing need), with 80% of these homes being built on previously developed ‘brownfield’ sites. This number was not the proposed housing target, but an indication of what a target could be, to enable the local community to be part of the discussion, regarding how many homes should be delivered in the town.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To note the summary of the plan-making process that is outlined in the report

(2) To note the risks in delaying the preparation of a ‘sound’ local plan

(3) To note the initial summary of the main issues arising from the Growth Strategy consultation

(4) To note the Full Council agreement that the Fisherman’s Green site should be withdrawn from the Growth Strategy as the site is no longer available.

(5) To agree that any further public consultation into the Eastbourne Local Plan is paused until all evidence on potential allocation sites is sought, available and assessed.

(6) To agree to receive the Regulation 19‘Proposed Submission’ draft local plan late 2023, early 2024.

Reason for decisions:

To receive and complete the required evidence base and to enable work to continue in the background on the preparation of the Eastbourne Local Plan.