Town Council Adopts Neighbourhood Plan

The final steps towards the publication of a Neighbourhood Development Plan for Hailsham are coming ever closer, following the adoption of the final draft Plan by the Town Council at its meeting held last Thursday [12^th April].

Town councillors voted in favour of the final Neighbourhood Plan document, which is based on what infrastructure and development residents have suggested is needed to sustain future housing growth in the Hailsham area, taking into consideration local environment and sustainability, design, housing type, traffic and transport, economy, services and facilities.

The Plan will next be submitted to Wealden District Council for formal approval. If accepted, the Plan will then be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for review.

Upon completion of the latter inspection the plan will then be put to a referendum by Hailsham Parish residents.

Councillor Glenn Moore, chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning Committee commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the Committee, particularly those non-councillors who have given up their time, as well as the appointed consultants, Troy Planning, and especially those members of the public who have come along to the consultation meetings and taken the trouble and time to let us have your views.”

“I urge residents to look out for their referendum ballot papers that will be posted to them later in the year and, of course, take part in the referendum.”

The various public consultations and public engagement events carried out by the Neighbourhood Planning Committee since its launch in 2015 have generated a lot of interest and responses from local residents.

The Committee’s aim of ensuring that the local community had the opportunity to voice its opinion on how the town should grow in the future (and the facilities and services required to do so) has been successfully achieved.

Town Clerk John Harrison commented: “The findings of the consultation questionnaires and public engagement events have helped to demonstrate that there is significant support for the various ideas and infrastructure requirements proposed and as outlined in the Neighbourhood Plan document. All responses from the public were used to help inform and direct the final version of the Plan.”

To find out more about the Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan, its progress and latest announcements, visit www.hailshamneighbourhoodplan.co.uk.