As part of the update to our Local Plan, Rother District Council is required by national planning policy to undertake a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA).
The HELAA assesses the development potential of sites for housing and economic land uses (including renewable energy schemes) across the district and consider whether they are suitable, available and achievable for development over the new Local Plan period (2025 – 2042). The HELAA forms an important part of the evidence base for the new Rother Local Plan. It has be carried out in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (December 2024) and the national Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). The latest HELAA to support the January 2026 Regulation 18 consultation can be found below.
The interactive map illustrates the location of all the sites that have been assessed through the draft HELAA and colour coded by the assessment conclusion. The assessments of the sites can be found in the documents below the map which are divided by the five sub-areas as set out in the proposed Development Strategy. The sub-area of a site can be found by clicking on the site within the interactive map.
We are continuing to accept new site submissions for assessment through the next version of the HELAA. To submit a site for consideration, please visit the Call for Sites page.
It is important to note that the HELAA does not pre-empt or prejudice any future Council decisions about any site. It is not a statement of Council policy. It does not determine whether a site should be allocated for future development, as that is the role of a Local Plan or a Neighbourhood Plan. It does not determine whether or not a site will be granted planning permission.
As required by Planning Practice Guidance, the HELAA has been undertaken on a district-wide basis. Notwithstanding this, many towns and parishes are covered by existing and emerging Neighbourhood Plans, which may have involved their own “call for sites” and site assessments. The HELAA does not constrain this process in any way.
