The Council has prepared the following supporting evidence base to inform the Local Plan – Regulation 19 (Proposed Submission) Version. This will be subject to further review and refresh as the Plan progresses. For further information on the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation visit the draft Local Plan webpage.
The HELAA assesses the development potential of sites for housing and economic land (including renewable energy schemes) across the district and considers whether they are suitable, available and achievable for development. The HELAA (2026) to support the Submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan can be found on the HELAA webpage.
In support of preparing the policies for the new Local Plan, the Council have produced several thematic background papers which cover the current relevant policy context, existing evidence and guidance documents, a series of policy options, and a recommendations table for the preferred policy option.
Playing Pitch Strategy Update Background Paper (2026)
Development Boundaries Background Paper (2026)
The Density Study contains the evidence used to calculate housing density ranges and how these will apply to Rother’s different area types, as proposed by Policy LWL1: Compact Development. The information used to establish density and net site area is based upon national guidance and best practice and form an assessment of local developments.
The Council undertook targeted engagement at an early stage in the production of the local plan, in advance of the public consultation.
In order to the support the Council’s new Local Plan, we have worked alongside all of the East Sussex local authorities, and the South Downs National Park Authority to commission a joint Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Needs Assessment for the study period between 2021 and 2040. This study provides a summary of accommodation need for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in respect of both their permanent and transit needs for pitches/plots over the study period.
In addition, to identify additional sites for Gypsies and Travellers to meet the need set out in the Accommodation Assessment, we are carrying out a “Call for Sites”. We have published an interim report on potential sites identified to date, although site assessments have not yet been completed.
The purpose of the assessment is to understand the impact of the Council’s activities on people from protected and socio-economic disadvantaged groups and to assess whether unlawful discrimination may occur. It also helps identify key equality issues and highlight opportunities to promote equality across the Council and the community.
The HRA is a document that assesses whether the Local Plan may result in likely significant effects on the integrity of designated Habitats Sites.
Landscape Sensitivity Assessments have been prepared for potential development sites to inform the Council’s Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) and the Regulation 19 Local Plan.
This joint strategy for Hastings and Rother was produced in line with Sport England’s latest guidance and is the follow-on document to the Rother and Hastings Playing Pitch Strategy 2016 and the Leisure Facilities Strategy 2009-2020.
The Tourism and Visitor Accommodation Study has been produced jointly for Rother District Council and Hastings Borough Council.
The HEDNA has been prepared jointly with Hastings Borough Council. Its purpose is to assess future development needs up to 2042 for housing (both market and affordable) and employment across the Hastings and Rother area, to inform the preparation of the two Authorities’ emerging Local Plans. The document does not set the housing target for local authorities but provides the evidence to inform its starting position. The HEDNA has been produced in line with national Planning Practice Guidance.
A HEDNA was previously prepared for the two Councils in 2020. For reference, the HEDNA (2020) is available here (pdf) .
The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) has been developed as part of the Draft Local Plan. It identifies and details the strategic infrastructure provision which will support the objectives of and the development proposed within the Local Plan.
The superseded IDP from April 2024 is available here.
The Council has undertaken an assessment of the likely impacts of Local Plan growth on the transport network and potential need for mitigation. This work builds on the Shared Transport Evidence Base prepared for earlier iterations of the local plan. The 2026 assessment makes use of the East Sussex Countywide Transport Model.
Shared Transport Evidence Base (October 2026)
In addition to this, the Council has had produced a feasibility study for a potential West Bexhill multi-modal corridor and low carbon growth area.
Rother District Council (RDC) declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. The new Local Plan will contribute to the council’s ambition for Rother to be net zero across the district by 2030. The Net Zero Carbon Evidence Base Report sets out an assessment of the causes, effects, and future projections of sectoral carbon emissions which the Local Plan will need to address in order to achieve a sustainable and resilient future for Rother residents.
Achieving significant carbon reductions in Rother will require coordination between not just how buildings are developed (as directed by planning policy) but where they are located and how they are grouped, as determined through local plan site allocations and growth scenarios. The key recommendations of this report address both aspects.
The Energy Efficiency Standards Study provides additional technical evidence on operational energy performance standards for new dwellings. It assesses how energy use intensity targets align with national regulatory metrics and recommends a net-zero-aligned approach to improving the energy efficiency of new homes, consistent with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and national planning policy requirements.
Overview of the Rother Retail and Main Town Centre Uses Evidence Base
Rother Retail & Town Centre Uses Study 2023
Volume B – Assessment Appendices (Available upon request)
Volume D – Household Survey (Available upon request)
Rother Retail and Main Town Centre Uses Study 2026 Refresh
Rother Retail and Main Town Centre Uses Study 2026 Refresh Vol 1 (October 2026)
Rother Retail and Main Town Centre Uses Study 2026 Refresh Vol 2 (October 2026)
The Settlement Study reviews the district’s existing designation of settlements by assessing the function, sustainability and physical constraints of built-up areas across the district. This is important to support the Council in demonstrating that it has explored all opportunities to meet the significantly increased Local Housing Need figure set by government, through the new Local Plan.
Settlement Study Appendices – Available upon request
The Rother District Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (Level 1 and Level 2, 2026) provides information on all sources of flood risk in Rother District to inform the planning process. The SFRA Level 1 (2026) updates earlier iterations produced in 2021 and 2024, and reflects the most up-to-date guidance and flood data. Full details of the 2026 reports, including all appendices, and also the earlier reports, are available on the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) webpage. The SFRA Level 1 (2026) also provides evidence for the Coastal Change Management Area in Appendix E.
The Flood Risk Sequential and Exception Tests has been carried out in accordance with national planning policy to inform the emerging Local Plan’s development strategy and site allocations.
Rother District Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Update (September 2026)
Rother District Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Update (September 2026)
Flood Risk Sequential Exception Tests (September 2026)
For more information, please see the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) webpage.
Rother District Council worked jointly with Hastings Borough Council to prepare joint SA/SEA Scoping Report for the respective Local Plans. This document presents the SA framework which will be used to assess the development of policy options as the Local Plan progresses.
The Council has prepared a Local Plan Viability and CIL Assessment to support the production of the emerging Rother District Local Plan. This assessment provides evidence to inform the production of appropriate policies and growth options and ensure that growth proposed through the emerging Local Plan is financially viable and deliverable.
The Council has prepared a Green and Blue Infrastructure Study to support the preparation of the emerging Rother Local Plan. This assessment provides a robust evidence base and identifies local needs, deficiencies, and strategic opportunities. Its findings have informed emerging policies in the Plan.
