Wealden's Local Plan

As you know we spent much of the past year developing our Local Plan. However, during that process the new government changed the planning environment, believing that will somehow solve the housing crisis we face. Unfortunately, it has become clear that we are going to have to hold another consultation before we can move to the next stage of the new Plan due to:

• there being a number of new sites submitted since the draft was approved about a year ago,
• the need to reassess transport issues in the light of changes in the new National Planning Policy Framework, and,
• a higher housing target set for the district

The consultation, which will be shorter and less complex than last year’s one, should take place in the final quarter of this year, and the final draft of the Plan should then appear in the second quarter of 2027.

The length of time the process takes is frustrating, but that’s not for want of trying on the part of our planning officers and councillors. The government requires an enormous amount of information to support the Plan proposals and a lot of the work done in the early stages now requires updating. Secondly, it is highly likely that the housing number proposed in the Plan will be significantly lower than the target figure (over 1400 pa), so we will need to be able to prove to the Planning Inspector who assesses the Plan that our number is the right one. On the brighter side, as the consultation process advances, the draft Plan gains increasing (although still limited) importance in relation to decisions on individual planning applications.

Sadly, the number of households on Wealden’s housing need register has increased by 81% in the past two years. This is part of a national trend that demonstrates a serious failure of housing policy on the part of governments over many decades. This failure is built into the Local Plan rules, and it will continue for as long as the provision of social and affordable housing is regarded as less important than developers’ guaranteed profits. This is something the current government does not seem to understand. Giving planning permission is not the same as building a house!

In light of the reorganisation of local government which will happen over the next few years – resulting in the disappearance of Wealden Council – you might ask why we are bothering! Government is expecting work on Local Plans to continue, and it will start to have “weight” whilst we still exist. Also, the new East Sussex authority will have no housing and development plans in place, and it is likely to take some time before it does. So, we believe the Local Plan will still carry some influence even after Wealden Council no longer exists.

New Local Plan Timeline:

• Second Regulation 18 Consultation – September to December 2025

• Regulation 19 Consultation (all chapters) – April to June 2026

• Submission for Independent Examination – July to August 2026

• Plan Adoption – April to June 2027

Land North of A272 Planning Appeal

You may remember that last year Wealden’s Planning Committee rejected a proposal to build 49 houses on the land north of the A272. As expected, the developer appealed that decision and the hearing of the appeal has now been set start at 10am on Wednesday 23 April 2025, for two sitting days and will be held at the Hellingly Community Hub, Hellingly, BN27 4EP.

The hearing will be an in-person event which you can attend. During the event and, at the Inspector’s discretion, you may be able to give your views. Anyone wishing to speak at the hearing should make themselves known to the Inspector on the day. Should you wish to attend the hearing you should contact the council by emailing planning.appeals@wealden.gov.uk.

The council will live stream the hearing via YouTube for interested parties to follow the proceedings if they do not wish to actively participate. The council will post a link to the stream on the feed of our social media account X, formerly known as Twitter, on the morning of the appeal @wdc_planning.

The hearing stream may also be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn3PgrhOuyeNJrT4hLSuFkw.

Community Grants Programme

Twenty-five organisations have successfully been awarded a total of £1,084,500 of funding over three years through the Wealden Community Grants Programme and additional funding being made available from the cost of living and reserve fund.

The Programme is designed to support local organisations in the delivery of services that benefit the residents of Wealden. It provides funding to help organisations make positive impacts in their communities, addressing various needs and priorities within the district. The grants are awarded for a three-year period running from April 2025 to March 2028. Please see webpage for further details about the grants: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-andsafety/information-on-grant-funding/community-grants-awarded-in-this-financialyear/

Local Government Re-organisation

The local government reorganisation I wrote about in my last update is now proceeding. This will lead to the abolition of the district councils and (probably) the creation of a single “unitary” East Sussex authority. Many councillors have concerns about this development, many of which were aired at a recent Full Council meeting. The lack of detail from government, the danger of remoteness from communities and ensuring the voice of rural areas in the new systems – to name but three. Meanwhile the crisis in adult and children’s social care, and the rising costs of special educational needs, remain. You may have seen that nationally there are local authorities warning of their insolvency in the face of these particular costs.

Whilst Wealden councillors and officers can seek to influence the process and its outcomes, decisions, in the end, don’t rest with us. However, in the run up to Wealden’s abolition we are actively considering which elements of the present council strategy are a priority for delivery in the remaining time. We are committed to leaving a lasting legacy and ensuring the voice of our communities is heard.

Consultations on CCTV and Leisure Services

Several new public engagement projects have been launched on the council's public engagement hub (let's talk Wealden). One on the compulsory use of CCTV within taxis licenced in Wealden and one on Leisure Services in Wealden. These are available here - Compulsory use of CCTV within taxis licensed by Wealden District Council | Let's Talk Wealden and Leisure Services in Wealden | Let's Talk Wealden.

Buxted has its share of illegal waste dumping but, thankfully, overall cases are slightly reducing.

Additional Funding for Economic Growth, Business Support and Wellbeing

By April 2026 all councils will have a duty to introduce weekly food waste collections. We are working with our waste collector – Biffa – to order a fleet of waste collection vehicles for deliver at the end of the year/start of next year. These new vehicles and the containers for residents are being funded through Defra. Residents will receive these in the run up to start of the new service. The Council has been awarded a further £383,457 from the Shared Prosperity Funding. Projects that will be delivered into 2025 – 2026 include:

• Town Centre support – continuation and extension to Streets of Wealden events into April and May (this work is supported through a successful Arts Council bid),
• Support to the visitor economy through local produce projects, continued support to the viticulture sector and 1066 Country partnership, § Further capital works to the Cuckoo Trail and extension of the outreach work undertaken in schools and care homes,
• Support of Local Business – a County wide business support programme to provide start up and specialist support,
• Skills – participation in a County wide skills programme with a focus on supporting young people not in education, employment or training and adults furthest from the workplace.

New Regulations for Social Housing

Wealden is one of a few councils which still has rented social housing (around 3000 properties). As such our housing team is busy ensuring we comply with new regulations designed to improve social housing and ensure better outcomes for tenants. We will be measured by a new regulator on safety and quality, as well as tenant satisfaction measures. We are required to set up a new Tenants Together Board, which includes tenant representatives to make sure we comply with the new regulations.

Please don‘t hesitate to contact me to discuss these or any other issues important to you. Contact me on cllr.graham.shaw@wealden.gov.uk Tel. 07770 571828 Wealden’s website is www.wealden.gov.uk