Representation period opens on Hastings' Local Plan

Residents, stakeholders and interested groups are invited to make representations on the Pre-Submission draft Local Plan before it is submitted to government. 

The Local Plan is one of the council’s most important documents.  The Plan looks ahead to 2041 and describes our vision of how and where Hastings will grow and change. The plan sets out how the borough could accommodate around 3,000 homes, while directing growth to sustainable locations, and ensuring the necessary infrastructure is present. 

This is called Regulation 19, a six-week period that is the final stage of the Local Plan process before government inspectors assess the plan.  

More than 2,300 comments from more than 540 respondents were received during the previous stage of consultation. Changes have been made to the plan taking in to account those comments, and we have engaged further relevant bodies and specialists for advice and guidance. 

The Regulation 19 process, which launches on Thursday 1 October is the last opportunity to comment on the draft Local Plan before it is submitted for independent examination. All responses will be presented to the planning inspector and at this stage should focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and "sound" – meaning it is evidence-based, deliverable and consistent with national planning policy. 

Cllr Mark Etherington, lead councillor for planning, said: “We had a great response to our request for feedback on the Local Plan earlier this year, with more than 2,300 comments. We are now asking for representations on the legal compliance and soundness: is the plan legally compliant and sound in its current form? These must be received through the correct channels between now and Thursday 12 November. They will then be looked at by the government’s planning inspectorate who will determine whether the plan can be adopted. 

“We have received many comments about taking sites out of the Local Plan. It is important to note that removing a site from the Local Plan does not mean it is then safe from development. By including sites in the Plan, we can set the standards by which development proposals might be judged on a particular site.” 

Representations can be made until 11.59pm on Thursday 12 November. 

Formal representations can be submitted either through the council’s website, or by sending completed response forms, available online, either by email, post or by hand. Our preference is for comments to be submitted online as this is the most efficient way to capture representations.  A full list of options for responding to this consultation is set out below: 

Online: hastings.gov.uk/localplan

Email: fplanning@hastings.gov.uk

Post/ By Hand:  Planning Policy, Hastings Borough Council, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. 

Phone number for queries: 01424 451102 

Visit www.hastings.gov.uk/localplan to find out more.