Rother District Council is inviting residents, businesses, and stakeholders to take part in a vital consultation on its emerging Local Plan.
The consultation will run from 26 January 2026 to 5pm on 23 March 2026 and focuses on potential sites for development across the district.
The Government has set new housing targets, requiring councils nationwide to plan for significantly higher housing numbers than in previous years. For Rother, this means making some difficult decisions about where new development will go.
The Local Plan is the blueprint for how Rother will grow and develop over the coming years. It ensures that homes, jobs, infrastructure and open spaces are carefully planned and delivered.
It will also help ensure that the district’s attractive countryside is preserved and help address important issues such as affordable housing, climate change and nature recovery. Without an agreed Local Plan, the Council’s ability to manage development would be restricted, leaving the district vulnerable to planning by appeal.
The consultation is an opportunity for everyone to have their say on potential development sites. Feedback from the public and stakeholders will help shape the next version of the Local Plan, which will then be subject to a further public consultation in late summer 2026.
Cllr Teresa Killeen, portfolio holder for planning, said: “Agreeing a Local Plan is essential for the future of Rother. We need to balance the need to provide new homes with the protection of our environment and countryside and maintaining the character of our communities. This consultation is your chance to influence where development happens, so please take part and share your views.”
Visit https://www.rother.gov.uk/draftlocalplan2026 to view the proposals and submit your comments before 5pm on 23 March 2026.
This is a draft Local Plan on which the Council is seeking views. It will be subject to revisions as the Council moves through the plan making process. However, at present, the Plan provides for 8,427 new homes to 2042, equating to approximately 500 dwellings per year across Rother. Significant employment floorspace is also proposed to help provide employment opportunities.
Comments on the sites that the Council are proposing to take forward for development are sought from the public, statutory consultees and the development sector to inform the next version of the Plan. Additional site suggestions are also welcomed.
The sites proposed for allocation for development were identified following a comprehensive exercise where the Council reviewed over 900 sites across Rother.
Published: 27th January 2026
