Planning in Eastbourne

Sovereign Harbour Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Sovereign Harbour neighbourhood will be promoted by: Developing community facilities in order to meet the needs of local residents; Providing extensive employment opportunities through the development of a Business Park (B1a Office); Increasing the amount of appropriately landscaped, usable open space and the number of children's play areas; Allowing up to a maximum of 150 new homes, (including affordable homes) the substantial majority of which should be houses rather than flats, but only if the community facilities are guaranteed to be delivered; Increasing the importance of the Waterfront as a leisure and tourist centre; Encouraging opportunities to improve the provision of public transport through improvements to bus routes; Enhancing the importance of the Marina for tourism through appropriate measures including the provision of additional berths and associated boat storage facilities; Enhancing the provision of cycle and walking routes to improve connections within the neighbourhood and to other parts of the town; and Encouraging opportunities for renewable energy generation particularly combined heat and power (CHP) on development sites.

Community, Sports and Health

Provide new or improve access to community, health and sports facilities within the neighbourhoods.

Town Centre Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for the Town Centre neighbourhood will be promoted through the Town Centre Local Plan and by: Strengthening the retail offer through new retail development; Expanding the quality and range of public transport provision; Improving the quality of the public realm; Delivering new housing through conversions, infill development and redevelopment; Maintaining a diverse range of services and facilities; Increasing access to open spaces and provision of children's play areas; Providing additional community and health facilities to meet local needs; Conserving the historic environment and protecting it from inappropriate development; Enhancing and maintaining an attractive and viable seafront offer; Protecting tourist accommodation from losses and inappropriate development; Developing the Wish Tower Restaurant into a destination to complement tourism uses in the area; Encouraging links to and between the seafront and different parts of the town centre; and Promoting renewable energy generation.

Summerdown & Saffrons Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Summerdown and Saffrons neighbourhood will be promoted by: Redeveloping the Dental Practice Board site to provide a mix of health uses, as well as some residential, employment and community uses; Providing new residential units, mainly through conversions of existing properties; Increasing the provision of affordable housing in the neighbourhood; Defending the historic environment from inappropriate development; Protecting and enhancing facilities at the Saffrons Sports Ground; Enhancing access to the South Downs National Park whilst preventing inappropriate development on the boundary; and Delivering opportunities for sustainable travel through the provision of cycle routes.

Meads Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Meads neighbourhood will be promoted by: Providing new housing through redevelopments and conversions in a mix of types and styles, including affordable housing, within the existing urban area and particularly in the Jevington Gardens area; Protecting the historic environment from inappropriate development; Increasing the provision of health and community facilities and facilities for children and young people through developer contributions; Defending existing tourist accommodation from losses and inappropriate development; Enhancing access to the South Downs National Park whilst preventing inappropriate development on the boundary; Resisting the loss of greenspaces, including playing fields, amenity spaces and allotments; Supporting the needs of the University of Brighton as a key provider of higher education and training in the town; Increasing opportunities for sustainable travel through the provision of cycle routes; and Encouraging opportunities for renewable energy generation, including the installation of micro-generation technologies in existing homes.

Upperton Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Upperton neighbourhood will be promoted by: Delivering new housing through redevelopment and conversion of existing properties; Increasing the provision of affordable housing; Protecting the distinctive character of the neighbourhood, especially in historic areas; Providing additional allotments through the expansion of existing sites; Improving access to greenspaces, including parks/gardens and amenity areas, and provision of additional facilities for children and young people; Enhancing the quality of public transport provision through Quality Bus Corridors; and Creating access into Eastbourne Park whilst protecting the boundary from inappropriate development, and screening the urban fringe.

Seaside Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Seaside will be promoted by: Delivering greater economic activity through the regeneration of commercial areas; Providing new housing through redevelopments, change of use and conversion of floorspace above shops; Protecting the historic environment; Improving the quality of the public realm, especially in designated shopping areas; Defending existing tourist accommodation from losses and inappropriate development; Developing tourism and leisure offers at Fishermans Green and the Redoubt; Resisting the loss of greenspaces, including playing fields, amenity spaces, play areas and parks and gardens; Improving linkages across Seaside through the reduction of traffic and congestion, resulting in reduced road accidents and pollution; Encouraging sustainable travel through the provision of safe walking and cycling routes; Enhancing the quality of public transport provision through a Quality Bus Corridor on the approach to the Seaside roundabout; and Encouraging opportunities for renewable energy generation including potential for district heating networks.

Old Town Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for the Old Town neighbourhood will be promoted by: Improving the provision of facilities for young people; Protecting and enhancing shopping centres; Delivering some housing through infill and redevelopment of commercial premises; Conserving the historic areas and buildings of Old Town; Resisting the loss of parks and greenspaces, including Gildredge Park and Old Town Recreation Ground; Enhancing access to the South Downs National Park whilst preventing development on the boundary; and Encouraging the provision of safe walking and cycling routes to link residential areas to shopping centres and other parts of the town.

Ocklynge & Rodmill Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Ocklynge & Rodmill neighbourhood will be promoted by: Increasing the provision of local community and health facilities; Creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment through public realm improvements; Providing affordable housing where the opportunity arises; Encouraging additional facilities at Eastbourne Sports Park to increase the quality of sporting provision; Protecting important greenspaces across and adjacent to the neighbourhood; Enhancing access to Eastbourne Park whilst protecting the boundary from inappropriate development and screening existing development with planting; Promoting the provision of safe walking and cycling routes; Designating Quality Bus Corridors to improve the quality of public transport; and Encouraging opportunities for renewable energy generation including potential for a combined heat and power facility (CHP) at the District General Hospital and development sites.

Roselands & Bridgemere Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Roselands & Bridgemere will be promoted by: Encouraging opportunities for refurbishment or redevelopment for employment use in the neighbourhood's industrial estates; Providing new safe walking and cycling routes, particularly along Horsey Sewer, to link the neighbourhood with other parts of town; Delivering additional housing through making more efficient use of land; Increasing allotment provision through an extension and improvements to the existing allotments; Creating new useable open spaces along Horsey Sewer and protecting and enhancing existing greenspaces; Establishing public access to Eastbourne Park whilst protecting the boundary from inappropriate development, and screening the urban fringe; and Encourage opportunities for renewable energy generation.

Shinewater & North Langney Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Shinewater and North Langney neighbourhood will be promoted by: Improving the provision of community and leisure facilities; Increasing the importance and community focus of the neighbourhood centre on Milfoil Drive; Enhancing the quality of the open space and facilities at Shinewater Lane playing field; Delivering housing development through infill on underused and undervalued sites and the redevelopment of Hide Hollow Farm; Enhancing public access to Eastbourne Park whilst protecting the boundary from inappropriate development, and screening the urban fringe; Expanding connections to other areas through provision of safe walking and cycle routes; and Promoting improvements to the quality of the public realm to create a more pedestrian friendly environment.

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

In order to meet identified need for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople for the plan period, the Council will work with neighbouring local planning authorities on the provision of sites. If this process fails to identify sufficient sites by 2015, a Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations Local Plan will be prepared to address the deficit. The following criteria will be used to assess the suitability of sites and will also be used to assess planning applications or proposals for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople: the impact on landscape character and/or sites of nature conservation interest, and scope for mitigation; the topography of the site and impact on visual amenity as well as the risk of flooding; the location of the site in relation to the highway network and the potential impact on traffic movement and trip generation on local roads; safe and convenient access to local services and facilities such as schools, shops and health services, and the availability of utility services; and adequate provision can be made for on site parking, storage, play areas and landscaping screening in order to protect the amenities of adjacent occupiers; and the impact on the residential amenity of the settled community.

Community, Sport and Health

To enhance community and sports facilities, additional provision, including enhancements to existing facilities, will be sought in neighbourhoods where there are identified deficiencies. This will ensure that acceptable standards of provision, and local need are achieved. For outdoor sports facilities, additional provision and enhancements will be assessed on an Eastbourne-wide basis to meet overall demand. The Council will work with other relevant organisations to ensure that appropriate health care facilities, including new provision and enhancements to existing facilities, are provided in the most appropriate locations to meet existing and anticipated local needs. New residential development will be required to deliver on-site provision or make a financial contribution towards the provision of community, sports and health facilities to meet the needs of the development and the wider community. Financial contributions should be provided in accordance with the advice and guidance set out in the Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan. In addition, major developments (10 dwellings or greater or 1000 square metres or greater) will be required to undertake a Health Impact Assessment. Development for new community, sports and health provision should be located close to neighbourhood or local centres or where this is not practicable in locations that are easily accessible by walking, cycling or the use public transport. New facilities should be designed for flexible use to encourage the sharing of facilities by different organisations and services and be capable of being extended to meet future needs. The loss of any community, sports or health facilities will be resisted unless it can be demonstrated that the facility is no longer required to meet current needs, or where alternative and improved provision can be made elsewhere in Eastbourne in a location that is accessible to local people.

Creating Sustainable Neighbourhoods

The sustainability of the neighbourhoods will be improved by addressing the issues specific to the individual communities, and encouraging links between the neighbourhoods. Proposals within the fourteen neighbourhoods will accord with the respective vision for the specific neighbourhood within which development is being proposed. All schemes will also be assessed against the following generic criteria. They will be required to: Meet the needs of the local community and address issues specific to that neighbourhood; Protect the residential and environmental amenity of existing and future residents; Create an attractive, safe and clean built environment with a sense of place that is distinctive and reflects local character; Offer a choice of housing and employment opportunities locally; Respect the natural environment by adapting to climate change and reducing potential negative environmental impacts; Provide services and facilities locally within reasonable walking distance of the local residents; and Encourage sustainable modes of transport and create good connections between neighbourhoods.

Design

In order to achieve a high quality environment new development makes a positive contribution to the appearance of our townscape and urban heritage. Design and layout should take account of context, i.e. neighbouring buildings as well as the surrounding area. New development can be modern or based on historic forms but must respect, preserve or enhance local character. It is vital that design goes beyond the focus of the individual development and also takes account of sense of place, safety and security. Eastbourne's built environment should be of an exemplary standard. It will be protected and enhanced and development will be expected to: 1. seek exemplary standards of design and architecture that respects Eastbourne's unique characteristics; 2. apply national and regional policies in respect of design, landscape townscape and historic heritage; 3. ensure that the layout and design of development contributes to local distinctiveness and sense of place, is appropriate and sympathetic to its setting in terms of scale, height, massing and density, and its relationship to adjoining buildings and landscape features; 4. ensure that new development makes a positive contribution to the overall appearance of the area including the use of good quality materials, reusing existing materials where appropriate, and seeking to achieve a high standard of finish; 5. promote local understanding of good innovative and imaginative design; and 6. ensure new development is accessible to all and designed to minimise crime and anti-social behaviour without diminishing the high quality of the overall appearance.

Economy

Well paid jobs for local people with a workforce skilled to match employment opportunities

Economy

Job growth and economic prosperity in Eastbourne will be supported. This will enable the achievement of a sustainable economy and a town where people want to live and work. This will be achieved by: Encouraging development which supports improvements in the local jobs market through creation of additional jobs and employment diversification; Supporting development which provides for, or achieves, units for new start-up businesses; Identify sites and land for employment use to meet the need for 55,430m² floorspace in the period to 2027; Maximising the use of existing employment sites, through redevelopment for employment use and increased density on existing industrial estates, and the upgrading of the existing stock; Allocating land within the town centre through the Town Centre Local Plan for new B1(a) office use; Supporting the development of B1(a) office use at Sovereign Harbour; Supporting the Education and Training sector of the Eastbourne economy through a flexible approach to expansion proposals; and Protecting good quality employment space, and resisting change of use. Any proposal will be considered in a sequential process which gives priority to retention unless the site is unviable for employment use or is otherwise unsuitable.

Sustainable Development

There is a presumption in favour of sustainable development. All new development should be sustainable and be well designed and constructed and demonstrate that it has taken account of the principles of sustainable development by: Delivering economic, social and environmental well-being; Enhancing the natural and built environment; Conserving scarce resources, making efficient use of land and infrastructure; Ensuring a balanced mix of uses that work together encouraging sustainable living; Utilising sustainable construction techniques; Being easily accessible to all users; Ensuring good connections to public transport , community facilities and services; and Reducing the opportunities for crime and the fear of crime using Secured by Design principles. All development proposals will need to demonstrate that: The Energy Opportunities Plan (EOP) has been considered, ensuring that: Planning applications for new development demonstrate how they contribute to the current Energy Opportunities Plan. Contributions towards national energy and CO2 targets, applications for standalone energy generation and other CO2 reductions in Eastbourne will be considered favourably; Developments in areas designated as having potential for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) should install the secondary elements of a district heating network (i.e. from the wider network to buildings). Where appropriate, applicants may be required to provide land, buildings and/or equipment for an energy centre to serve existing or new development. New development should be designed to maximise the opportunities to accommodate a district heating solution, considering: density, mix of use, layout and phasing. Developments where this is shown to be unviable will be subject to a financial payment into a Carbon Buyout Fund. All new residential developments meet the minimum requirement of Code Level 4 for all new homes from April 2013; Non-residential developments over 1000m² must meet BREEAM 'Very Good' standard. Site waste generation must be minimised and specific measures incorporated into schemes to contribute towards achieving increased levels of household waste recycling. New residential buildings must achieve water use of less than 105 litres/head/day (as required by Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4).

Eastbourne Park

Eastbourne Park is an important ecological, archaeological and leisure resource that should be utilised to its full potential. It is also an essential flood storage area, which helps mitigate the effects of flooding on the surrounding built development. Any future proposals for the Park should ensure that they do not compromise its vital role as an area for flood storage and mitigation. The future enhancement of the Park will be undertaken in a manner that provides an effective and sustainable balance of environmental, social and economic benefits for Eastbourne in accordance with the Core Strategy Vision. In order to maintain the effectiveness of Eastbourne Park as an essential flood storage area, and in the interests of mitigating flood risk, the existing flood storage system will be periodically reviewed and updated as required. Within the areas of highest ecological value, the environmental quality of the Park will be conserved and enhanced through the creation of a Local Nature Reserve; a key element of this will involve the development of a visitor centre to create a unique attraction and focus for tourism in the Park. An educational resource centre related to the Shinewater archaeological site could be provided within this facility or separately. For the protection of the natural and historic environment within Eastbourne Park: flood storage capacity will be increased through extensions to existing and/or additional flood water storage lakes, and these should be designed to provide enhancements to existing biodiversity and avoid impact on significant archaeological interests; with the exception of wind-turbines, renewable energy generation will be encouraged, taking care to ensure that new installations do not cause obstructions to watercourses or have an unacceptable effect on the local fauna; landowners that undertake environmental stewardship schemes to deliver effective environmental management of their land will be supported; and ecological corridors will be established to provide links to the wider integrated green network across Eastbourne. Outside designated nature conservation areas and where proposals would not result in an unacceptably detrimental impact on wildlife and ecology, appropriate outdoor leisure and recreational uses will be permitted. The following leisure and recreation uses will be supported at Eastbourne Park: non-motorised water-based recreation, including sailing, rowing, canoeing and other similar uses; outdoor sports facilities, including playing pitches and areas of amenity space; children's play areas, located close to and with safe access to existing residential areas; allotment provision, located close to and with safe access to existing residential areas; and enhanced access to the Park through the provision of a comprehensive network of pedestrian and cycle routes. No other development will be permitted in Eastbourne Park unless its contribution to the enhancement of the Park as an area of importance for ecology, archaeology or leisure/recreation can be clearly demonstrated. Applications for alternative sources of renewable energy such as Biomass and Solar would be considered subject to outcomes of detailed Landscape Impact and Biodiversity Impact Assessments and a woodland management plan.

Natural Environment

Protect and support a diverse and multi-functional network of green space by: Producing a Green Network Plan and creating environmental interpretive focal points in Eastbourne's parks and gardens and natural areas. Improved infrastructure will encourage walking and cycling as a means of accessing and connecting the green network and countryside. Identifying a network of strategically and locally important green space areas. Development will only be permitted where it does not cause fragmentation of these existing habitats or landscapes or exceptionally where there is an overriding need for the development which cannot be met on alternative land. Requiring development proposals to improve the quality and quantity of green spaces and address local deficiencies in accessible green space where appropriate. Protect and enhance the allotment provision in Eastbourne by: Protecting all allocated allotment sites and only permitting development if it can be proven that the site is genuinely surplus to requirements. Providing new, high quality and easily accessible allotment sites in order to meet future local demand. Seeking to enhance the quality of existing allotment sites across Eastbourne, promoting sympathetic management in line with the Biodiversity Assessment Report. Promote effective conservation and enhancement of Eastbourne's wildlife by: Producing Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPS) to identify measures to preserve and enhance the geology, habitats and species of importance in Eastbourne. Safeguarding local, national and international protected sites for nature conservation from inappropriate development. Ensuring that development seeks to enhance biodiversity through the inclusion of wildlife needs in design, and ensuring any unavoidable impacts are appropriately mitigated for. All developments over 500m² or 5 dwellings will be required to produce a Biodiversity Survey to ensure development does not impact on species of importance. The Survey must also include proposals to show how any impacts will be addressed by enhancement and mitigation measures. Support development proposals that avoid areas of current or future flood risk, and which do not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere. A risk based sequential approach will be required to determine the suitability of land for development. Minimising the risk of flooding will be achieved by: Ensuring that development is subject to a flood risk assessment which conforms to national policy, in order to demonstrate it will be safe, without increasing flood risk elsewhere. Liaising closely with the Environment Agency when determining applications for development. Applying a sequential test for assessment of applications for development. Requiring development to incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to manage surface water drainage.

Historic Environment

All significant heritage assets will be protected and enhanced, where practicable: There is a presumption in favour of protection of all heritage assets from inappropriate change, including both designated (Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas) and non-designated assets (Buildings of Local Interest, Areas of High Townscape Value). Development within Conservation Areas will be permitted if: 1. it preserves or enhances the character, setting and appearance of the area; 2. it does not involve the loss of important features which contribute to the character of the building itself or wider area; 3. its form, bulk, scale, height, massing, materials and function of the development are appropriate to the development site and surrounding buildings, spaces and views; 4. it does not involve all or the partial demolition of a building or feature which positively contributes to the character of the area, unless it can be demonstrated to be wholly beyond repair, incapable of beneficial use or is inappropriate to the character of the area. Areas of High Townscape Value and Buildings of Local Interest will be conserved and enhanced through the application of the guidelines contained in the approved Eastbourne Townscape Guide and the use of Article 4 Directions. Listed buildings will be protected from demolition, and from proposed additions and alterations that would adversely affect their character, appearance and/or fabric. Development should not adversely affect the setting of listed buildings. Designated Historic Parks, Gardens and Open Space as well as those of importance will be protected from development that would adversely affect their character and historic interest. Views into and from these sites will be protected. Sites should not be subdivided. There will be a presumption against any development that would directly or indirectly have an adverse effect on Scheduled Monuments or Archaeologically Notification Areas. Where development is proposed in Archaeologically Notification Areas, appropriate assessments will be required and discovered remains will need to be preserved in situ or by record.

Summerdown & Saffrons Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 40 net units within Summerdown & Saffrons before 2027

Meads Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 358 net units within Meads before 2027

Ratton & Willingdon Village Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 12 net units within Ratton & Willingdon Village before 2027

St Anthony's & Langney Point Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 25 net units within St Anthony's & Langney Point before 2027

Ocklynge & Rodmill Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 116 net units within Ocklynge & Rodmill before 2027

Roselands and Bridgemere Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 116 net units within Roselands and Bridgemere before 2027

Hampden Park Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 84 net units within Hampden Park before 2027

Langney Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 178 net units within Langney before 2027

Shinewater & North Langney Neighbourhood Policy

To deliver 69 net units Shinewater & North Langney before 2027

Housing

Deliver at least 30% affordable housing in low market areas and 40% affordable housing in high market areas

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Provide a level of gypsy, traveller and travelling showpeople's residential and transit pitches in accordance with need assessments and contributing to the need for transit pitches in East Sussex

Spatial Development Strategy and Distribution

The spatial development strategy will deliver at least 5,022 dwellings and 55,430 square metres of employment land by 2027 within the built up area boundary, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. It will include: Giving priority to previously developed sites with a minimum of 70% of Eastbourne's housing provision to be provided on brownfield land; Developing on a number of small greenfield sites within the urban area that are of low value and poor quality; and Creating sustainable centres where adequate services and facilities would be provided by balanced housing led growth. The priority locations for balanced housing growth alongside delivering significant improvements to the provision of community facilities and services and improving linkages will be in the two sustainable centres: The Town Centre (approximately 1,242 new dwellings); and Sovereign Harbour (up to a maximum of 150 new dwellings). The delivery of new employment land and community facilities alongside new residential development in the two centres will be required to cater for increased growth and improve their sustainability as neighbourhoods. In the following six sustainable neighbourhoods higher residential densities (than the existing range identified below) will be supported, subject to other policies in the plan: Old Town (31-122 dwellings per hectare); Meads (13-127 dwellings per hectare); Upperton (103-131 dwellings per hectare); Town Centre (107-180 dwellings per hectare); Seaside (63-160 dwellings per hectare); and Langney (30-70 dwellings per hectare).

Langney Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Langney neighbourhood will be promoted by: Providing new housing through the redevelopment of underutilised sites; Redevelopment of redundant retirement courts for affordable housing; Increasing the provision of health facilities and play areas; Encouraging extensions or redevelopments at Langney Shopping Centre to provide additional retail, leisure and residential uses and improving the appearance of the area that does not prejudice its comprehensive redevelopment; Improving connections to other areas, especially employment areas, through the provision of safe walking and cycling routes; Promoting improvements to the quality of the public realm to create a more pedestrian friendly environment; Resisting the loss of designated greenspaces; and Enhancing access to Eastbourne Park and Pevensey Levels, whilst protecting the boundaries from inappropriate development.

Housing

Proposals for housing will be in accordance with the approach set out in Policy B1: Spatial Development, with a focus of delivering housing within the sustainable centres and sustainable neighbourhoods and must take appropriate account of the need identified in the most up-to-date strategic housing market assessment with particular regard to size, type and tenure of dwellings. The Council will work with partner organisations to ensure that there is an appropriate supply of high quality affordable housing distributed throughout Eastbourne. This will be achieved by having regard to up-to-date strategic housing market assessments. All development will be required to contribute towards affordable housing where there is a resultant net gain of 1 or more residential units (C3 Use Class). The Council recognises that market conditions vary across Eastbourne. In order to ensure that developments remain economically viable, the proportion of affordable sought will vary. In developments within Neighbourhoods in High Value Areas, 40% affordable housing will be sought on all sites. In developments within Neighbourhoods in Low Value Areas, 30% affordable housing will be sought on all sites. Where the percentage (either 30 or 40%) does not result in a whole residential unit being required (i.e., 0.66 or 1.33), a commuted sum will be sought for the remaining requirement. Every whole affordable unit required should be delivered on site to ensure an appropriate mix of housing types and tenures throughout Eastbourne. Tenure mix - 70:30 Rented to 'shared ownership', adjusted where necessary to balance housing need and make schemes viable, subject to negotiation. 30% 'shared ownership' to include other forms of intermediate tenure, including intermediate rented. The affordable housing should be a mix of housing sizes and types in proportion to the housing being developed in each scheme and informed by evidence of housing need contained in the most up-to-date Housing Market Assessment. Affordable housing will be distributed across the whole site and will be indistinguishable from other forms of development on the site.

Infrastructure Delivery

The Council will work closely with public agencies, utility companies and infrastructure providers to ensure that the necessary infrastructure to support future housing and employment development is available or will be provided alongside new development. The delivery of infrastructure will be phased to take into account the timing of new development and availability of funding. Any adverse environmental impacts arising from new infrastructure will be minimised. The Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan outlines all of the strategic infrastructure requirements that are required over the plan period. This document will be regularly updated to reflect changing economic and other local circumstances, and new streams of funding if and when they become available. This will ensure that certain elements of infrastructure can be provided when the total level of housing and employment growth reached necessitates an increase in provision.

Ratton & Willingdon Village Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Ratton and Willingdon Village neighbourhood will be promoted by: Increasing the provision of local shops, health facilities and facilities for children and young people; Providing affordable housing where opportunities arise; Protecting the natural and historic environment from inappropriate development; Enhancing access to the South Downs National Park whilst preventing inappropriate development on the boundary; Resisting the loss of greenspaces and supporting the provision of additional open space uses at Westlords playing field; Encouraging the provision of safe walking and cycling routes, especially in areas where there are inadequate footpaths and crossing facilities on the A2270; and Improving the quality of public transport provision through the Quality Bus Corridors.

St Anthony's & Langney Point Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for St Anthony's & Langney Point neighbourhood will be promoted by: Encouraging the redevelopment and intensification of Industrial Estates; Upgrading public realm in the Industrial Estates to make it more attractive for potential and existing businesses; Increasing the provision of community and health facilities; Providing affordable housing where opportunities arise; Developing land adjacent to the Sovereign Centre for a leisure facility; Improving the quality of the public realm within areas that are car-dominated to create a more pedestrian friendly environment; Promoting the provision of safe walking and cycle routes and links to the existing National Cycle Network route; Resisting the loss of greenspaces, including playing fields and amenity areas; and Enhancing public access to Eastbourne Park whilst protecting the boundary from inappropriate development, and screening the urban fringe.

Sovereign Harbour Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Sovereign Harbour neighbourhood will be promoted by: Developing community facilities in order to meet the needs of local residents; Providing extensive employment opportunities through the development of a Business Park (B1a Office); Increasing the amount of appropriately landscaped, usable open space and the number of children's play areas;

Hampden Park Neighbourhood Policy

The vision for Hampden Park neighbourhood will be promoted by: Delivering housing through infill development on underused land; Encouraging intensification of industrial estates; Protecting and enhancing retail provision in shopping centres; Improving the public realm in residential and shopping areas to create a sense of place; Providing additional allotments through improvements and extensions; Protecting important greenspaces, such as Hampden Park; Increasing provision for facilities for children and young people; Enhancing access to Eastbourne Park and softening the urban fringe; and Supporting sustainable modes of transport through the provision of safe walking and cycling routes linking residential areas with neighbourhood centres, and by supporting the creation of interchange facilities at Hampden Park railway station.

Tourism and Culture

Increase the total number and quality of tourist bed spaces

Shopping

Enhance Eastbourne town centre's role as a shopping destination

Tourism and Culture

The importance of the entertainment, cultural and sports facilities to the economic prosperity of Eastbourne is recognised. The Council will support the preservation and enhancement of these through the following measures: Resist the loss of visitor accommodation through the retention of a tourist accommodation area and protection policy; Support the appropriate upgrading of existing hotels and holiday accommodation to provide improved facilities for visitors as well as supporting proposals for additional accommodation in the sustainable centres; Support new entertainment, cultural and sporting facilities in Eastbourne, where appropriate. Recognise the value of the South Downs National Park as a visitor and recreation asset and work with the Park Authority, to protect the area from development which would damage or adversely affect its character and/or appearance; Support the retention and enhancement of the entertainment, cultural and sports facilities in Eastbourne through development management measures resisting changes which would lead to a downgrading in the town's cultural integrity and/or appearance; Prepare a strategy for the future of the seafront area through the production of a Seafront Area Action Plan; and Promote the development of the Wish Tower restaurant to provide an enhanced asset for the benefit of residents and visitors.

Shopping

Development of the Town Centre's role as the primary comparison shopping destination within Eastbourne and its rural hinterland will be promoted by: Protecting larger units – particularly in the primary shopping frontages – from subdivision or change of use Ensuring that new retail development: makes a positive contribution to improving the Town Centre's viability and vitality; supports the creation of a comfortable, safe, attractive and accessible shopping environment; improves the overall mix of land uses in the Town Centre; and strengthens the town's independent retail offer, and improves the integration between the primary shopping area and the seafront. To provide a sustainable network of local shopping, the retail hierarchy of District, Local and Neighbourhood centres (as shown in Appendix C) is designated as: A. Eastbourne Town Centre Primary and Secondary Shopping Areas (PSA and SSA) B. District Shopping Centres (DSC) Green Street (Albert Parade) Hampden Park (Brassey Avenue) Langney Shopping Centre Meads Street Old Town (Crown Street) Seaside (Langney Road to Springfield Road and adjacent to St James' Road) Sovereign Harbour C. Local Shopping Centres (LSC) Rodmill St Anthony's (Beatty Road) Seaside (Seaford Road to Channel View Road) D. Neighbourhood Shopping Centres (NSC) The Broadway (Hampden Park) Queens Parade (Hampden Park) Old Town (Victoria Drive) Grand Hotel Buildings (Meads) Carlisle Road (Meads) St Anthony's (Winston Crescent including local supermarket) Town Centre (Cavendish Place) The Council will enable the enhancement of consumer choice and strengthening of the vitality, viability and accessibility of the district and local centres by supporting new retail development which: complies with the sequential approach to site selection, which prioritises development in the following order: Eastbourne Town Centre Primary and Secondary Shopping Areas (PSAs and SSAs); District Shopping Centres (DSCs); Local Shopping Centres (LSCs); Neighbourhood Shopping Centres (NSCs); Edge-of-centres; and Out-of-centre sites, which are accessible by a choice of transport means. is appropriate in scale and function to its location; is fully integrated within the existing shopping area; will not have an unacceptable adverse impact, including; cumulative impact, on the vitality and viability of the Town Centre and surrounding district, local and neighbourhood centres; helps maintain and develop the range of shops to meet the needs of the local community within the centre.

Sustainable Travel

Ensure that all new development is located within 400 metres of a bus stop. Ensure that all new development is located within 800 metres of local services

Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel will be promoted through a variety of measures aimed at reducing the need to travel and reducing the reliance on the private car. Alternative sustainable travel choices will be supported by shaping the pattern of development and influencing the location, scale, density, design and mix of land uses. Services and facilities, such as local shops, health facilities, schools, open spaces and community centres, should be provided locally and be accessible to each neighbourhood to help reduce the need to travel. All new development should be located within 800m of local services and facilities and within 400m of a bus stop with a regular service. New development that generates significant demand for travel should be provided in locations that are well served by a variety of transport methods, especially public transport. Travel Plans will therefore be required for development that is expected to create a significant number of additional trips in line with East Sussex County Council's 'Guidance on Travel Plans for New Developments'. The development of a network of safe walking and cycling routes will be promoted, especially where they link existing residential areas to employment areas and educational establishments, and offer the potential for modal shift. This will include the development of new routes, enhanced pedestrian and cycle crossings, better signage and street lighting and a sustained promotion of these routes. The introduction of innovative pedestrian-focused layout designs such as shared surfaces, reduced pedestrian segregation and public realm improvements will be supported as a way of creating an improved pedestrian network. The standard and quality of public transport will be significantly enhanced by developing and strengthening opportunities for bus and rail integration at Eastbourne and Hampden Park railway stations. Bus priority measures will be promoted along the A2270, A2021; and A259, which will be formally designated as Quality Bus Corridors. New development should: - Reduce the need to travel; - make walking, cycling and accessibility to public transport a priority in the design of their layouts; - provide for the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, including people with disabilities and mobility difficulties; - contribute towards sustainable travel schemes and activities, including the County Council's Local Sustainable Accessibility Improvement Contributions; - support safe and effective traffic movement along existing highways. New development should also provide for the travel demand that they create through a balanced provision for access by powered two wheelers, public transport, cycling and walking. Development proposals will be assessed in relation to their compliance with approved maximum car and cycle parking standards, related to the accessibility and location of the site.