The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires policies to be underpinned by robust, relevant and up to date evidence to support and justify policies at a local level. We have undertaken a number of studies covering a range of topic areas and we have referred to these, as relevant, in the Draft Wealden Regulation 18 Local Plan.
For certain planning topic areas our evidence base work is ongoing, this includes our evidence around climate change and biodiversity for example, where we have wanted to progress this work at the right time to ensure that it is as up to date as it can be before we submit the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate for Examination.
As we refine the plan for the next stage, certain evidence bases that we have undertaken may also need to be updated to account for baseline information changes such as forthcoming Census data or national policy / legislative changes. This will include updates to our Housing and employment evidence base for example, where more up-to-date Census data is now available.
The evidence base reports that have informed the draft Wealden Regulation 18 Local plan are provided under the relevant topic headings below:
- Employment and Economic Study for Eastbourne and Wealden – 2022 (including Appendix 1 and 2)
- Appendix 3 – Economic Development Briefing: Wealden
- Appendix 4 – Economic Development Briefing: Eastbourne
- Appendix 5 – Site Assessments: Wealden
- Appendix 6 – Site Assessments: Eastbourne
- Wealden Town Centre Study – July 2022
- Wealden Town Centre Study Appendices – July 2022
- Wealden Visitor Accommodation Study – (September 2023)
- Wealden Visitor Accommodation Study – Technical Appendices – (September 2023)
Additional documents that relate to our economy studies can be found here.
Previous green infrastructure studies can be found here.
Additional documents that relate to our gypsy and travellers studies can be found here.
- Wealden Local Housing Needs Assessment – August, 2021
- Main SHELAA Report – February 2024 (includes Appendices 1, 2 and 3)
- Appendix 4 to SHELAA Report – Parish Site Summaries
Additional documents that relate to our housing studies can be found here.
- Wealden Landscape Character Assessment (2022)
- Wealden Landscape Sensitivity Assessment to Residential and Employment Development (2023)
- Wealden Landscape & Visual Appraisal – New Settlements and Large Urban Extensions (2023)
- Wealden Landscape & Visual Appraisal – Potential Development Sites in the High Weald AONB Main Report (January 2024)
- Wealden Landscape & Visual Appraisal – Potential Development Sites in the High Weald AONB Appendix A (January 2024)
- Wealden Landscape Sensitivity Assessment – Renewable Energy Development (2024)
- Wealden District Council Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy – Assessment Report (April 2022)
- Wealden District Council Open Space – Assessment Report (April 2022)
- Wealden District Council Open Space – Parish Area Summary
- Wealden District Council – Indoor Sports Facility Needs Assessment (March 2022)
- Wealden District Council Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy – Strategy and Action Plan (2023)
Additional documents that relate to our open space, sports and recreation studies can be found here.
- The North Wealden Level 1 SFRA (2022)
- The North Wealden Level 1 SFRA (2022) Appendices
- The Eastbourne and South Wealden Level 1 SFRA (2022)
- The Eastbourne and South Wealden Level 1 SFRA (2022) Appendices
- Wealden Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
- Appendix A – Site Summary Tables.
- Appendix B – Groundwater Assessment
- Appendix C – Level 2 Cumulative Impacts Assessment
- Appendix D – Level 2 Site Screening
Additional documents that relate to our strategic flood risk assessment studies can be found here.
- Wealden Local Plan Shared Transport Evidence Base (STEB): Initial Growth Option (1) – Interim Assessment and Mitigation Strategy (Transport Note 01) (December 2022)
- Wealden Local Plan Shared Transport Evidence Base (STEB): Assessment of New Growth Options 2-4 (Transport Note 02) – (December 2022)
Previous transport studies can be found here.