Communities are being reminded that sites submitted to Wealden District Council for housing and employment land as part of the new Local Plan preparation will not necessarily be granted planning permission.

Following national Local Plan making rules, the council invited individuals, landowners, developers and site promoters to put forward sites to be considered and the sites are known as Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment – SHELAA - sites.

The Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment is an essential piece of evidence, which is required to support the Local Plan process and the assessment is promoted and set out in National Planning Practice Guidance.

The submitted SHELAA sites are available to view on the council’s website and Wealden planners have pointed out that just because these sites are included, it does not mean they will be developed in the future.

Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for Planning, Councillor Ann Newton said, “There seems to be some confusion and people wrongly assume that these submitted SHELAA sites are ones that have been approved for development.

“That is simply incorrect: these sites have been submitted to the council as potentially being suitable for housing or employment land. They do not have any special planning status.

“Considering them in the SHELAA does not mean they will be developed in the future or that the council would view applications on these sites favourably.

“We are reviewing all submitted sites at present and will make decisions on their suitability in the coming weeks. Sites that are considered suitable will then go onto the next stage of being considered for including in the draft Local Plan.

“The council is aiming to consult on our draft Local Plan later this spring and will be encouraging all communities to take part.”

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