“The council’s commitment to a new Local Plan is strong. We want a Local Plan to help ensure that development can be managed in accordance with strong innovative policies around climate change, the built and natural environment, biodiversity net gain, our local economy, housing standards and more besides.
“This is a Draft Local Plan and not the final one as we will be running a consultation and want our residents, businesses and communities to give their views."
Maresfield Councillor Ian Tysh, lead councillor for Planning and Environment, Wealden District Council.
People wishing to receive updates about the Draft Local Plan and to take part in the consultation process, should register using Wealden District Council’s consultation portal at https://consult.wealden.gov.uk/kse/
Wealden District Council votes to bring Local Plan for public consultation
Wealden District Council voted on 8th February 2024 to bring a draft Local Plan to the public for consultation. This draft plan proposes a significant step change for Wealden, improving environmental standards for new developments, offering significantly improved nature protection and providing more houses with fewer bedrooms that more people can afford. It also specifies sites that are suitable for potential development over the next 15 years. Cllr Ian Tysh sys: “The council’s commitment to a Local Plan is strong. We want a Local Plan to help ensure that development can be managed in accordance with strong innovative policies around climate change, the built and natural environment, biodiversity net gain, our local economy, housing standards and more besides. This is a draft Local Plan and not the final one as we will be running a consultation and want our residents, businesses and communities to give their views.”
Council leader James Partridge said: “Residents want a say in the future of our district. We don’t want it to stop adapting to meet the needs of present and future generations. We want it to go on being a great place to live and work and know it won’t if we don’t plan for it. We want the right houses, in the right places, with the right infrastructure and at a price which we have some hope of being able to pay. We want to preserve our heritage and as much green space as possible. We want nature restored. None of this will happen, if we don’t have a plan to make it happen.”
The debate made clear that Councillors felt that the government’s planning system does not adequately serve communities. Cllr Coleman stated “We are caught between a rock and a hard place - government dictat perpetuates inequality at the expense of the planet.” And yet, not having a plan - as has been Wealden’s experience for over a decade - creates problems, additional costs and developer-led chaos that simply must end. Cllr Andrew Wilson said “I stood for Council to make sure that Wealden approved a Local Plan. Residents deserve certainty about the immediate future of their areas.”
Frustration was repeatedly expressed that the government’s “build build build” approach was not even solving the housing crisis. Rachel Millward, Lead Councillor for Housing and Benefits said “We should be extremely angry that working families are increasingly struggling to pay for a roof over their heads, whilst developers and landowners continue to profit from the system”. At the same time, the considerable progress brought by policies which raise standards and ensure communities are better served were noted. Cllr Graham Shaw stated, “The government is reneging on its climate promises, so it is up to Local Authorities to step up. I welcome the proposed climate change policies and the move towards net zero which this draft will bring.”
26 Councillors voted for opening the consultation phase, 3 Independent Democrats and 1 Independent abstained, 3 gave apologies, 2 Independents declared personal or pecuniary interests and thus had to leave the room, and 9 Conservatives left the room of their own volition, before interests were declared, excluded themselves from the debate.
As far as we are aware at this time, two of the Conservative Councillors had a prejudicial interest which legally barred them from being involved in decision making around the Local Plan. One Councillor owns land which is featured within the Draft Local Plan; another owns land the development potential of which could be affected by the Draft Plan.
Deputy Leader Rachel Millward said: “It is disappointing that the whole Conservative group chose to leave the room. Six Councillors present could have stayed and contributed to the debate and voted on behalf of the residents they were elected to represent. We were all given the same information about conflicts of interest - this is a matter of the law, and absolutely nothing to do with political motive. There was absolutely no reason for 6 of the 8 present to leave. If I were one of their residents, I would not be pleased. Yet again, the Conservatives are failing to engage with the reality of our situation and avoiding involvement in difficult, but vital decisions.”
The councillors who walked out are: Cllr Ann Newton (Framfield & Cross in Hand); Cllr Brian Redman (Mayfield & Five Ashes); Cllr Lunn (Rotherfield), Cllr Howell (Frant & Wadhurst), Cllr Greaves (South Downs), Cllr Grocock (Hailsham West), Cllr Primett (Polegate Central) and Cllr Upton (Stone Cross). Cllr Geoffrey was not in attendance and gave his apologies.
The consultation process will be thorough. Councillors have been discussing the details of the draft Local Plan since August, in a series of meetings. Portfolio holder for Planning & the Environment, Councillor Ian Tysh says: “We have had nearly 40 hours of member consultation sessions, and our brilliant team of planning officers have been available to answer every query and receive every suggestion for months. It’s now the public’s turn. We will hold public meetings and in person information sessions in Crowborough, Maresfield, Uckfield, Polegate, Hailsham, Heathfield, Horam, East Hoathly and Frant. There will be help on hand, online and in person, for anyone wishing to contribute. It’s important to note that the more positive comments policies get, the sooner they will acquire weight in the planning process. That means, if you like a policy, please say so! As you can help make it count.”