Page 216 - MJC submissions

38. Residents were informed about which sites were being considered for possible
development at two public Consultation Events. The first was held on the 7th and 10th
November 2012. Maps showing the locations of 10 sites were displayed. Owners of 5 of
the sites had indicated an interest in developing them. The remaining 5 sites had been
assessed in the HSD but responses from the owners had not yet been received. 150 visitors
attended, the majority being residents of Ashurst Wood. An exit questionnaire was
completed by 105 people and included a question asking whether any of the sites should
be developed.

39. In February 2014, a further Consultation was held at which all proposals received in
connection with sites 1-14 listed above were displayed. Feedback forms were supplied,
asking for comments on each of the sites. 183 forms were returned. Information about the
proposed sites was also placed on the Parish Council’s website.
40. Between 2014 and 2016, the Steering Group, evaluated potential development sites and
provided data for MSDC to include in Sustainability Reports which it was obliged to
produce.

41. The Steering Group evaluated 16 sites (See attachment 7) with a potential capacity of over
120 dwellings. Additionally, MSDC through its SHLAA program, proposed six sites with a
potential capacity of 139 dwellings. Thus, there was more than sufficient land available to
satiate the village’s OAN without any need to convert the Wealden House sites into a
ghetto.

42. The current application states that development of the WH sites was by far the most
popular with villagers. This is unsurprising because:
• There was an overwhelming NIMBY bias in favour of developments away from the
village centre and to the north and west of the A22 (such as WH, Spinney Hills and
Willow Trees: the plan at Attachment 13 confirms this bias;

• The vote engaged just 5% of the 1,800 residents;

43. Some consultees reported that the OAN of 62 dwellings was far too high and one entry
(No 230) on the summary of the “Pre-submission draft - of Consultation Reponses”
proposed that 5 to 10 dwellings (in relation to the WH:EDF site and ASW Policy 9) should
be the limit. AWVC’s response – written on 24 September 2015 by Councillor Jennifer
th
Forbes, Chairman of AWVC’s Planning Committee - was that “The target numbers for the
site have been derived following evidence-based research and discussions with the District
Council” and that “no change to the plan was necessary.

44. The MSDC Strategic Market Assessment Update of October 2012 states:
“the overall effect (of providing housing in excess of local demand) is to reinforce
unsustainable patterns of commuting and ready access to services”.

45. Sustainability Appraisals caution that:
Page 10
“…..there is a limit to the number [of new dwellings] that is compatible with the
environmental, economic and social objectives of the Neighbourhood Plan and a

E:\Cobasco\Personal, House and computer instructions\EDF and WH Development\MJC
Plans theories and Objectives\CONSOLIDATED SUBMISSIONS\4a Mr Ashcroft 7th Dec
2018.docx