Sustainable Settlements in the High Weald Draft Final Report Prepared for The High Weald AONB Unit and the Countryside Agency by Land Use Consultants January 2006 14 Great George Street Bristol BS1 5RH Tel: 01179 291997 Fax: 01179 291998 [email protected] CONTENTS 1. Introduction........................................................................................ 6 Overview.......................................................................................................................................................6 The Challenge ..............................................................................................................................................6 AONB Policy................................................................................................................................................9 The Study....................................................................................................................................................10 2. Approach.......................................................................................... 13 Case Study Areas And Sample Settlements........................................................................................13 Use Of Secondary Data...........................................................................................................................15 Primary Data Collection..........................................................................................................................16 Consultation...............................................................................................................................................17 3. Policy Context ................................................................................. 19 Aonbs...........................................................................................................................................................19 National Policy...........................................................................................................................................20 Planning Policy............................................................................................................................................21 Sustainable Development And Sustainable Communities................................................................22 Regional And Local Planning Policy.......................................................................................................28 The South East Plan..................................................................................................................................28 Local Planning Policy.................................................................................................................................30 Key Issue - Housing..................................................................................................................................................32 Specifically In The AONB........................................................................................................................................32 Key Issue - Economy.................................................................................................................................................33 Local Plan Response.................................................................................................................................................33 Key Issue - Shopping And Community Facilities................................................................................................34 Local Plan Response.................................................................................................................................................34 Specifically In The AONB........................................................................................................................................35 Key Issue - Transport...............................................................................................................................................35 Local Plan Response.................................................................................................................................................35 Specifically In The AONB........................................................................................................................................36 Summary......................................................................................................................................................39 4. Findings ............................................................................................. 41 The Evidence Base ....................................................................................................................................41 Characteristics Of The High Weald .....................................................................................................41 People And Businesses In The Settlements Of The High Weald...................................................41 Table 3 Type Of Housing Provided In The Study..............................................................................43 Door To Door Survey.............................................................................................................................45 Businesses In The High Weald...............................................................................................................50 Travel To Work Across The AONB ...................................................................................................53 Travel To Work In The Study Areas .............................................................................................................56 Balcombe Study Area...............................................................................................................................................61 Sedlescombe Study Area.........................................................................................................................................65 Wadhurst Study Area ..............................................................................................................................................68 Travel To Services ....................................................................................................................................71 i Balcombe Study Area...............................................................................................................................................71 Sedlescombe Study Area.........................................................................................................................................74 Wadhurst Study Area ..............................................................................................................................................78 Local Consultation....................................................................................................................................81 5. Discussion And Recommmendations ............................................. 83 Synopsis Of Findings.................................................................................................................................83 Summary Of The Characteristics And Functions Of The Settlements In The High Weald ....84 Balcombe Study Area...............................................................................................................................................84 Sedlescombe Study Area.........................................................................................................................................84 Wadhurst Study Area ..............................................................................................................................................84 Balcombe Study Area...............................................................................................................................................86 Sedlescombe Study Area.........................................................................................................................................87 Wadhurst Study Area ..............................................................................................................................................87 Discussion...................................................................................................................................................90 The State Of Communities And Settlements In The High Weald.................................................90 Future Planning In The High Weald................................................................................................... 100 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 119 Overview.................................................................................................................................................. 119 Testing The Planning Policy Framework........................................................................................... 121 Policy Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 132 National Policy........................................................................................................................................ 132