Residents and businesses now have the chance to comment on how 12 Strategic Development areas within Wealden should be developed over the next 20 years. 
Public exhibitions are being held at Crowborough, Hailsham, Uckfield and Polegate in the first two weeks of February to help explain the proposals. You can also take part in the consultation on line and at council offices, libraries and view the documents at district and parish council offices. The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 24 February.
"We are seeking people’s views about where some of the major housing developments of the next 20 years should take place," said Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet member for Planning and Development at Wealden District Council.
"Our Core Strategy has identified suitable areas for new housing. This Strategic Sites consultation will enable local people to give their views about the detailed siting of those new homes and the supporting infrastructure to go with them. "
The 12 Strategic Development Areas are: Land to the West of Uckfield, Land to the East of Hailsham, Land to the North of Hailsham, Land South of Polegate and East of Willingdon, Land at Dittons Road, Polegate, Land East and South East of Stone Cross, Land North of Stone Cross, Land at Pine Grove, Crowborough, Land at Jarvis Brook, Crowborough, Land to the South East of Crowborough, Land to the North West of Heathfield and Land adjacent to Tunbridge Wells in the parish of Frant.
"’We need a detailed Local Plan for Wealden," said Councillor Roy Galley. "Without the protection provided by an approved Core Strategy we could be forced to allow housing developments all over Wealden. We are already seeing growing interest from developers looking for planning permission outside these Strategic Areas.
A Public Examination is currently looking at our draft Core Strategy and assessing the number of houses that can be sustainably built in Wealden. We expect to know by summer whether we will be able to adopt the Core Strategy."
The Strategic Sites consultation document will ask residents for their views on the local housing and supporting infrastructure.
There is currently a shortage of smaller one and two bedroom houses, particularly in the north of the District, whereas in the south, there is a need for some more family homes.
Strategic Sites exhibitions are taking place at the following venues:
The Council Offices, Pine Grove, Crowborough, on Saturday 4 February, from 10am-1pm.
At Diplocks Community Hall, Hailsham, on Saturday 4 February, from 10am-1pm.
At the Polegate Community Centre, 54 Windsor Way, Polegate, on Saturday 11 February, from 10am-1pm.
The Ashdown Room, Uckfield Civic Centre on Saturday 11 February, from 10am-1pm.
A further exhibition has being arranged by Hailsham Town Council at its offices in Market Street, Hailsham on Tuesday 7 February; 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.
You can take part in the consultation online and view the site options being considered. Visit the Wealden website, www.wealden.gov.uk , and follow the links from the home page.
Copies of the Strategic Sites proposals can also be seen at Wealden District Council's Crowborough offices and Hailsham Customer Help Point and Prospects House, at the Tunbridge Wells Gateway and at public libraries at Crowborough, Forest Row, Hailsham, Heathfield, Polegate, Uckfield, Wadhurst, Willingdon. They can also be viewed at parish and town council offices in Crowborough, Forest Row, Hailsham, Heathfield, Maresfield, Polegate, Willingdon and Jevington, Uckfield, and Mayfield.
The site options and maps put forward in the consultation involve land which has been identified through the 2010 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) as having possible potential for housing development.
Note to Editors:
The proposals put forward in the Strategic Development Area plans have already been based on extensive consultation carried out within local communities at earlier stages of the Development Scheme's progress. Wealden's new Local Development Framework - which will include the Core Strategy and the Strategic Sites Development Plan - will manage new development in the District until 2030. It will seek to ensure that the necessary infrastructure, such as roads, schools and health facilities, are in place to support the 9,600 homes which are proposed within the Core Strategy. All developments will be required to contribute to the necessary infrastructure either though section 106 planning agreements or through the new Community Infrastructure Levy.
For further information:
For further information:
Cllr Roy Galley,
Cabinet Member for Planning and Development,
Wealden District Council.
Tel: 01825 713018
Or
Jim van den Bos,
Communications Officer,
Wealden District Council.
Tel: 01892 602745
Email: jim.vandenbos@wealden.gov.uk
