Development principles

Development Principles are Supplementary Planning Documents which are linked to, and complement, the policies in the Adopted Local Plan allocating land for residential or other uses. The Local Plan policies mainly concern the principle of the land use and are not the place for too much detail. The Development Principles therefore provide design guidelines and additional information to help shape proposals for implementing the land uses and to secure the best standard of development.

The Development Principles cover such issues as:

• Density of development
• Developer Contributions towards local infrastructure such as education, recreation, kerbside recycling and accessibility to non-car modes of transport,
• Affordable Housing,
• Integration of the site into its surroundings,
• Access, circulation and parking,
• Layout and design,
• Landscape, 
• Energy Efficiency

The District Council is required to allocate land for a number of new homes that is established in the County Council's Adopted Structure Plan, and in turn at a national level. The Adopted Local Plan allocated land for a number of new units to meet demand in phase 1 (2006 - 2011). Each of these sites was allocated by a specific planning policy in the Local Plan and these policies are to be complemented by an individual Development Principle for each site that has yet to gain planning approval or to have been developed.

These Development Principles are being prepared on a rolling programme which involves:

• Internal consultation with relevant departments 
• Formulation of the guidance in association with local stakeholders
• A formal 6 week public consultation period for comments
• Formal consideration by Cabinet

At the completion of this process the Development Principles will therefore carry significant weight in shaping development proposals.

The following Development Principles have completed this process and have been approved:

Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for Allocated Land Uses in East Peacehaven
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for land north of Cradle Hill, Seaford
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for Railway Quay, Newhaven
Railway Quay Development Principles Appendices 1 to 3
Railway Quay Development Principles Appendices 4 to 5
Railway Quay Development Principles Appendices 6 to 11
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for land north of Belvedere Gardens, Seaford
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for land off Theobald's, Wivelsfield
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for Meeching Quarry, Newhaven
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for Gas Works, Seaford
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Development Principles for Clayhill Nurseries and land at Malling Brooks (East), Lewes

Comments on these Development Principles can be sent to :

Lindsay Frost,
Director of Planning & Environmental Services
Lewes District Council
Southover House
Southover Road
Lewes BN7 1AB
(01273) 471600