These are the Objectives of the Battle CP Neighbourhood Plan (see page 36/37 of the Plan documemt)
OBJECTIVE 1: Residential Development Sites:
The community acknowledges it is required to include in the plan the housing numbers set up by the Government and Rother District Council – at least 475 for Battle and the hamlet of Telham and at least 48 for Netherfield. The aim is for development sites within the defined Development Boundaries to reflect not only the AONB character of the locality but to embody the design principles embodied in the Battle CP Design Guidelines and the High Weald Housing Design Guide. Where possible the proposed locations should minimise local impact and address sustainability, environmental and spatial considerations, by robust assessment of all the factors which apply to the application.
OBJECTIVE 2: Traffic Mitigation Measures:
To require that Transport Assessments are undertaken for all development proposals within the Civil Parish in order to consider the wider implications and associated costs of traffic movements on the environment and local infrastructure with an overall aim of reduction in the impact of traffic movements and improvements for sustainable travel modes.
OBJECTIVE 3: The Maintenance of Green Gaps:
To formulate a policy that not only recognises the separate identities of the village of Netherfield and the hamlet of Telham and their unique relationship to Battle Town established over centuries, but enables them to retain the landscape characteristics of the High Weald AONB and prevent urban sprawl through creative solutions within the overall strategic aims of the Core Strategy.
OBJECTIVE 4: Developments should meet the needs and wishes of the community:
Development objectives must reflect the wishes of the community as evidenced from survey results and demonstrable needs identified through forums and exhibitions together with comments received through letters, emails, monthly articles in the local newspaper and Battle Town Council newsletter and meetings with various stakeholders within the Parish of Battle.
OBJECTIVE 5: The Protection of Open Spaces and the Countryside:
Plans must restrict the use of land for development which is primarily already outside of the development boundaries and has been designated as AONB. In addition, information that has been gathered by the Group on a number of identifiable green spaces which have yet to be afforded protected status, but would be lost for the purposes of sport, leisure and agricultural uses if policy decisions were to change within the RDC Strategic Aims, must also be given that protection. To protect and enhance our existing and future open spaces, any new development proposal should conserve and enhance the environment, ecosystem and biodiversity, ensuring that it gives protection to heritage assets, habitats and provides appropriate movement corridors for wildlife.
OBJECTIVE 6: Protection of Heritage Assets within the Parish Settlements:
A community is defined by its most important assets and where there are additional historical attributes attached to those assets no major changes should be allowed that would change the character of the town or other areas of the district which enjoy such history. Whilst this will influence development proposals for historic as well as listed building it reflects the community’s wishes and is essentially what attracts the many thousands of tourists to the area every year. It is important that the presence of below ground heritage assets (both known and unknown) is properly considered at an early stage in development proposals.
OBJECTIVE 7: Enhance the role of Tourism within the Parish:
Diversity improves the experience of tourism, and thereby increases the number of tourists within the Parish, as it caters for a variety of experiences to be satisfied. One of the aspirational aims within the Neighbourhood Plan is to encourage the placement of public art exhibits around all areas of the Parish. These are being funded by public subscriptions and developer contributions. This initiative will lead to many permanent exhibits within the Parish.
OBJECTIVE 8: The enhancement of Village/Town Centres within the Civil Parish:
The separate communities which make up the Civil Parish of Battle are being encouraged to provide the facilities – whether social, sporting or otherwise – desired by the residents and visitors alike, with possible allocation by Battle Town Council of the Community Infrastructure Levy monies which may be used for enhancing and developing those facilities. An example of this objective is the ambition to set up a part time health provision in Netherfield.
OBJECTIVE 9: To alleviate where possible the Traffic Congestion within the Parish:
Battle Town Council will seek to lobby appropriate authorities to address poor parking facilities, volumes and speeding traffic. From the surveys conducted, residents have commented on being concerned about safety measures within the Parish. The Plan seeks to highlight both sustainable travel and capacity/safety improvements.