Hastings Local Plan
The council is updating its local plan following changes to National Planning Policy Framework. The draft new Local Plan will cover a 20 year period from 2019 – 39. Before it can be adopted it will need to be subject to an independent examination (which is held in public) by the Planning Inspectorate.
Hastings Local Plan: Consultation Draft Summary
Introduction
The Hastings Local Plan: Consultation Draft outlines the strategic vision and policies for Hastings’ development up to 2039. The Plan aims to address key issues such as housing, climate change, economic growth, and the enhancement of natural and built environments. This summary focuses on heritage and high streets (including business development), crime and safety, and transport.
1. Heritage and High Streets (Including Business Development)
**Heritage Conservation**
Hastings is committed to preserving and enhancing its historic environment. The Plan supports developments that reveal and celebrate the town’s built heritage, protecting the significance of heritage assets while promoting the history of Hastings. This approach is aimed at strengthening the tourism offer, enhancing educational and cultural opportunities, and fostering a sense of community wellbeing.
Key policies include:
– Supporting the restoration and reuse of historic buildings to ensure their long-term viability.
– Protecting the significance and setting of listed buildings, conservation areas, historic parks and gardens, scheduled monument sites, areas of archaeological potential, and locally listed heritage assets.
– Focusing on the seafront as a location for important historic assets and protecting coastal views.
– Working with partners to restore and secure the long-term viability of historic buildings, including those identified as vulnerable on the national Heritage at Risk Register.
**High Streets and Business Development**
The Plan emphasizes the importance of a vibrant town center and high streets to the local economy. Key strategies include:
– Encouraging a diverse range of uses to increase footfall and economic activity, such as retail, leisure, cultural, and residential uses.
– Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, particularly in the creative and digital sectors.
– Enhancing the public realm to create attractive and accessible spaces that encourage people to visit and stay longer in the town center.
– Promoting sustainable development that reduces environmental impact and supports the Council’s carbon-neutral ambitions.
**Economic Growth**
To achieve a thriving and diverse economy, Hastings aims to:
– Support the growth of the manufacturing sector and the development of new creative, high-tech, and green industries.
– Create jobs and skill opportunities for local people, ensuring that economic growth benefits the entire community.
– Develop 4,275 new homes in well-designed neighborhoods that promote active lifestyles and are supported by good social infrastructure, such as shops and services.
2. Crime and Safety
**Community Safety**
The Plan addresses community safety by promoting design principles that help reduce crime and the fear of crime. These include:
– Designing public spaces that are safe, accessible, and well-lit.
– Encouraging active frontages in new developments to enhance natural surveillance.
– Implementing Secured by Design principles to ensure that new developments incorporate features that deter criminal activity and enhance the safety of residents and visitors.
**Partnerships and Initiatives**
Hastings Borough Council works closely with local law enforcement and community groups to address crime and safety issues. This includes:
– Participating in local safety partnerships to develop and implement strategies that address crime hotspots and improve overall safety.
– Supporting community-led initiatives that promote safety and cohesion, such as neighborhood watch schemes and youth engagement programs.
– Investing in infrastructure that supports safe walking and cycling, reducing the reliance on cars and enhancing public safety.
3. Transport
**Transport Infrastructure**
The Plan focuses on improving transport infrastructure to support sustainable growth and reduce carbon emissions. Key policies include:
– Prioritizing development in areas with good public transport accessibility to minimize the need for car travel.
– Enhancing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure to encourage active travel and reduce traffic congestion.
– Supporting investment in public transport to improve connectivity and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
**Parking and Access**
To manage the impact of development on the highway network and promote sustainable transport options, the Plan includes:
– Requiring Transport Assessments for developments that meet certain thresholds to ensure impacts are managed or mitigated.
– Prioritizing the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport over private vehicular access.
– Providing secure cycle parking facilities in residential and major office developments.
– Minimizing car parking provision, particularly in accessible locations, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles by requiring charging facilities in new developments.
**Climate Change and Transport**
The Plan aligns transport policies with the Council’s climate change objectives by:
– Encouraging a shift from car journeys to walking, cycling, and public transport.
– Expanding the network of green infrastructure, recognizing its role in carbon storage and health and wellbeing benefits.
– Exploring the use of land for projects that reduce carbon emissions while protecting important natural habitats.
Conclusion
The Hastings Local Plan: Consultation Draft outlines a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development, balancing the need for growth with the preservation of the town’s unique heritage and natural environment. By focusing on heritage conservation, vibrant high streets, community safety, and improved transport infrastructure, the Plan aims to create a thriving, safe, and accessible town that meets the needs of its residents, businesses, and visitors. The integration of climate change mitigation measures ensures that Hastings can develop sustainably, securing a better future for the community up to 2039 and beyond.
Summary of the Hastings Local Plan Consultation Draft – with reference to the Long Term Plan themes
1. Heritage and High Streets (including Business Development)
The plan emphasizes the importance of preserving and enhancing Hastings’ historic environment. Key strategies include:
- Support for Development: Encouraging projects that highlight and celebrate the town’s built heritage, protecting the significance of heritage assets, and promoting Hastings’ history to boost tourism, education, and cultural opportunities.
- Restoration and Reuse: Encouraging owners and developers to restore and reuse historic buildings, ensuring their long-term viability. The council will protect listed buildings, conservation areas, historic parks and gardens, scheduled monuments, archaeological sites, and locally listed heritage assets.
- Seafront Heritage: Protecting and enhancing important seafront buildings and views, supporting public realm improvements that enhance these historic assets and coastal views.
- Partnerships for Preservation: Working with partners to restore and secure the long-term viability of historic buildings, focusing on those identified as vulnerable on the national Heritage at Risk Register.
2. Crime and Safety
The Plan addresses community safety by promoting design principles that help reduce crime and the fear of crime. These include:
– Designing public spaces that are safe, accessible, and well-lit.
– Encouraging active frontages in new developments to enhance natural surveillance.
– Implementing Secured by Design principles to ensure that new developments incorporate features that deter criminal activity and enhance the safety of residents and visitors.
3. Transport
The plan outlines several strategies to improve transport infrastructure:
- Transport Assessment and Travel Plans: Required for developments meeting certain thresholds to manage or mitigate impacts on the highway network.
- Priority for Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Public Transport: Developments should prioritize these over through traffic and private vehicles.
- Cycle Parking: Mandatory secure cycle parking for residential developments and major office developments.
- Integrated Access and Parking: Ensuring access, parking, and servicing are efficiently integrated into new developments, minimizing land occupancy and ensuring a safe pedestrian environment.
- Minimizing Car Parking: Especially in accessible locations, with specific restrictions around Hastings Station.
- Electric Vehicle Charging: Required for all new properties with off-street parking, where feasible.
- Supporting Rail Enhancements: The council supports improvements in rail capacity and high-speed services to London, promoting better economic connectivity.
This summary highlights the key aspects of heritage conservation, crime and safety implications through urban planning, and transport infrastructure enhancements in the Hastings Local Plan Consultation Draft.