Site context
A scheme that responds to local surroundings
The site is located to the west of Ninfield Road at Lunsford’s Cross, on the north-western edge of Bexhill. It sits adjacent to existing residential areas and is framed by established landscape features and public rights of way, placing it within a well-connected and accessible location.
The proposals have been designed to respond to the opportunities to deliver new homes and community facilities underpinned by extensive landscaping that responds to the site’s character and surroundings.
The emerging proposals present an opportunity to deliver new homes alongside significant green infrastructure and public open space, while enhancing walking and recreational routes and improving connections with the surrounding area. The retention and enhancement of existing landscape features and Public Rights of Way form a key part of the emerging vision.
Red Line (27.6 ha)
Local Plan context
Two planning applications, delivered in line with the emerging Local Plan
Rother District Council is currently preparing a new Local Plan, which will guide where new homes, infrastructure and development should be located across the district in the years ahead. As part of this process, the Council has identified a need to deliver new housing to meet local needs in a planned and sustainable way.
Land west of Ninfield Road, Bexhill, has been identified in Rother District Council’s emerging Local Plan under policy reference BX39 as a suitable location for future housing. The site is considered to provide a natural extension to the urban edge of Bexhill and has the potential to support new homes alongside green infrastructure and community benefits.
The identification of the site in the emerging Local Plan follows a detailed assessment process by the Council, which considers matters such as landscape, accessibility, environmental constraints and the ability of sites to support sustainable growth. This allocation reflects the Council’s approach to directing development to appropriate locations while protecting the wider countryside.
In response, Catesby Estates and Rurban Estates are bringing forward proposals for land west of Ninfield Road through two separate planning applications. The wider benefits of development such as green infrastructure, community facilities and enhanced connectivity will be delivered collectively across the site in line with the objectives of the emerging Local Plan.
The proposals are being shaped through technical studies and early engagement with Rother District Council, alongside consultation with the local community, ahead of any future planning applications.
Planning Contributions
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 (S106) are mandatory obligations and charges placed on developers by local authorities to fund infrastructure and mitigate the impacts of new developments.
CIL is a non-negotiable, standardised payment levied by Rother District Council to fund general, borough-wide infrastructure. Its purpose is to ensure that development contributes to the cost of the infrastructure it will rely on. If planning permission is granted for the proposed development, we will make a CIL payment to Rother District Council to provide money to invest in, amongst other things, new schools, GP surgeries, transport measures and leisure facilities.
S106 contributions sit alongside CIL. Contributions sought will relate more specifically to site-specific impacts to make development acceptable in planning terms. This will include provision for onsite affordable housing and open space, highway works to assist with improving cycle and pedestrian connections to local facilities and services, as well as provisions to improve local bus services.
Red Line (27.6 ha)
Public Rights of Way- Outline Application 1
- Outline Application 2
Future-proofing
Delivering a lasting legacy
The proposals for land west of Ninfield Road are about more than delivering new homes. They represent an opportunity to create a place that brings long-term value to Bexhill and the surrounding area, shaped by landscape, community and connectivity.
By taking a landscape-led approach, the emerging proposals seek to protect and enhance existing green features, strengthen public open spaces and improve walking and recreational routes. These elements are intended to form a lasting framework that supports everyday life, biodiversity and a strong sense of place well into the future.
The development also aims to contribute positively to the wider community by supporting local infrastructure, enhancing access to green spaces and creating a well-planned extension to the town that responds to its setting. Through careful design, early engagement and ongoing collaboration with Rother District Council and local stakeholders, the ambition is to deliver a sustainable neighbourhood that people are proud to call home and that leaves a positive legacy for future generations.
Other benefits include:
- Strengthening the local economy through construction jobs and supply chain spend.
- Supporting local businesses and sports club with increased footfall.
- Enhancing public spaces for residents, children and families.
- Maintaining a strong edge between urban and rural areas to respect the local surroundings.
About Catesby Estates
Enhancing the area for local communities
Catesby Estates help deliver sustainable developments and homes where people have the opportunity to take their first steps on the housing ladder, buy a family home, or downsize.
Our developments help maintain and enhance the vitality of existing communities through job creation and socio-economic growth. Considerations for the environment and sustainability are at the forefront of our decision-making process.
By approaching residential development in the right way, we can leave a positive legacy for the area and build a level of trust as a preferred land promoter.