The Town Council has confirmed that the public consultation on the revised Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan has now closed, marking an important milestone in the ongoing neighbourhood planning process.
The Regulation 16 consultation, which was conducted by Wealden District Council on behalf of the Town Council, provided residents, businesses, community organisations and other interested parties with an opportunity to consider the revised Plan and submit representations before it progresses to independent examination.
The revised Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared following a detailed review of the original Plan, which was adopted in 2021. The review has taken account of changes to national planning policy alongside the changing circumstances, needs and priorities of Hailsham.
The Plan sets out a long-term vision for the town and contains locally focused planning policies intended to influence the way future development is planned and delivered. If ultimately adopted, the revised Plan will form part of the statutory development plan and will become an important consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications.
Among the principal areas addressed within the revised Plan are:
With the consultation period now concluded, the representations received will be collated and carefully reviewed as part of the next stage of the neighbourhood planning process.
The comments submitted during the consultation will be considered by the Town Council and Wealden District Council before the revised Plan is submitted for independent examination.
The independent examination will be undertaken by an examiner appointed to assess whether the Plan meets the necessary legal requirements and relevant national and local planning policy tests. The examiner may recommend modifications to the Plan where considered necessary.
Following the examination and subject to the outcome and any recommendations made by the examiner, the revised Neighbourhood Plan is expected to proceed to a local referendum.
The referendum would provide eligible Hailsham residents with the final opportunity to decide whether the revised Neighbourhood Plan should be brought into force. If the Plan receives the required support at referendum and all remaining statutory requirements are satisfied, it can then be formally adopted and used in the determination of planning applications.
Cllr Mary Laxton, Chair of Hailsham Town Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Committee, said: “The closure of the consultation marks a significant point in the preparation of the revised Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan. The Town Council would like to thank everyone who took the time to read the Plan and submit their views during the consultation period. Public participation is fundamental to neighbourhood planning and the representations received will now form an important part of the next stage of the process.”
“The revised Plan has been developed with the long-term interests of Hailsham in mind. Since the original Neighbourhood Plan was adopted in 2021, there have been significant changes to the planning policy landscape as well as changes within our town and the wider community. It was therefore important to undertake a thorough review to ensure that the Plan remains relevant, effective and capable of addressing the challenges and opportunities that Hailsham faces.”
Cllr Laxton added: “Now that the consultation has closed, the process does not end. The representations received will be reviewed and considered before the Plan progresses towards independent examination. An independent examiner will assess the Plan against the relevant legal and policy requirements and may recommend changes before it can proceed further.
“Subject to the outcome of the examination, the next significant stage would be a local referendum, when residents will have the opportunity to decide whether the revised Neighbourhood Plan should be adopted. This means that the community will ultimately have a direct say in whether the Plan becomes part of the planning framework for Hailsham.
“The Town Council recognises the importance of getting this Plan right. Neighbourhood planning is a detailed and lengthy process, but it provides a valuable mechanism for ensuring that local priorities are properly considered as Hailsham continues to evolve. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to the process so far and we look forward to progressing the revised Plan through the remaining stages.”
Hailsham Town Council remains committed to keeping residents informed as the Plan progresses and will provide further updates at the appropriate stages of the process.
The revised Neighbourhood Plan represents an important opportunity to establish a clear and locally informed planning framework for Hailsham, helping to guide future development while protecting the qualities and characteristics that are important to the town and its community.
Terry Hall, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk