Significant regeneration proposals have been revealed for a site in north-east Bexhill – to support business growth and create jobs.

The proposals from Sea Change Sussex include the ‘Gateway Road‘ required by the Rother Local Plan to open up access to a new development site beyond the urban edge of north-east Bexhill, to the east of Sidley. They also include early ideas for a business park on the site and its first set of business premises, designed to help companies expand and generate hundreds of local jobs.

Events were held on 11 and 12 April to make nearby residents, business people, councillors and other interested groups aware of the proposals and to seek constructive comments to inform forthcoming planning applications. An estimated 600-700 people came to see them, discuss them with the development team, ask questions and provide comments. Sea Change is also continuing to brief local business community groups.

Click here to see the proposals, as shown to the community.

Drawing of early ideas for the first business centre

A planning application for the Gateway Road will be submitted shortly, with an application for the business park and first business centre scheduled to follow this summer.

Comments: If you’d like to submit comments on the proposals as shown, please email them (by clicking this link) by 22 April. If you prefer, you can post them to Bexhill Comments, TK Associates, 33 Rydens Road, Walton KT12 3AF.

Once the planning application for the Gateway Road has been submitted, you will be able to see this on Rother District Council’s web site and give comments to the Council’s planning team.

Local comments will be carefully considered prior to the planning application being lodged.

On initial review, the themes within the feedback received so far include:

  • Positive comments about the effect of the proposals on long-term job creation – particularly for young people in the area – and recognition of the benefits to the local economy
  • Concerns about the impact of the Gateway Road and proposed developments on traffic levels on Wrestwood Road – which the development team has been addressing through an extensive traffic impact analysis
  • Support for the way the schemes would help businesses start and grow, including feedback on the kind of business facilities most needed
  • Questions about the impact on wildlife and the rural character of the area – which have been addressed through an ecological study plus landscape and visual impact analyses, to be included with the planning applications
  • Positive remarks about the location of the business development site and the way it is sensitively screened from surrounding areas by the rolling landscape, trees and hedges
  • Some opposition in principle to any new development and the urban expansion of Bexhill 

 

For any further media information, contact:

Tariq Khwaja from PR agency TK Associates:

T: 01932 224 212

E: tariq.khwaja@tk-associates.com