 |
|
|
| |
|
| Chapter 11 |
| Tourism |
| |
|
| |
Context |
| 11.1 |
Tourism is a widespread and highly varied
activity which makes a significant contribution to the national and
local economy. All the signs suggest that tourism will continue to
increase both in scale and significance, whilst changing in response
to the growing numbers of overseas visitors, the continuing trend
towards short break holidays, and the increase in day visits. |
| 11.2 |
The Council's Tourism Strategy takes a
positive stance towards tourism in recognition of the significant
economic, social and environmental benefits it brings to the area.
It not only contributes towards the local economy in terms of creating
jobs and generating income, but often helps to safeguard and support
local services and amenities. It has the potential to assist the conservation
of the countryside and historic buildings, to stimulate improvements
to infrastructure, and to generally enhance the District as a place
in which to live, work and invest. |
| 11.3 |
However, it is also recognised that tourism
can have environmental costs as well as benefits. For example, tourist
traffic, if not carefully managed, can cause congestion and damage
at popular locations, while the needs of visitors sometimes generates
pressure for inappropriate development. The quality of Wealden's environment
is its greatest tourism asset and it is essential to ensure that the
growth of tourism does not erode the very character and appearance
of the areas that visitors come to see and enjoy. |
| |
Strategy |
| 11.4 |
In the context of the above considerations,
the Plan's objectives for tourism are:- |
| |
(1) |
to support the development of tourism,
whilst recognising the need for a balance between such development
and the protection of the heritage and environment of the area; |
| |
(2) |
to promote environmental quality as the
key tourism resource of the District; |
| |
(3) |
to encourage the development and management
of sustainable tourism that is compatible with the District's environment
and which can help maintain and support it; |
| |
(4) |
to recognise that tourism is a positive
activity with the potential to benefit the community and the place
as well as the visitor and in any location to seek a balance between
their needs; |
| |
(5) |
to ensure that tourism activities and
developments respect the scale, nature and character of the place
in which they are sited, and provide realistic choice of access by
public transport, walking and cycling; |
| |
(6) |
to encourage high quality tourism developments,
whilst seeking to extend the geographical spread of tourism within
the District. |
| |
Tourist Attractions and
Facilities |
| 11.5 |
There are many features within Wealden
that are an integral part of its character and which attract visitors.
The Downs, the Weald, the coastline, historic properties and gardens,
the country lanes, villages and farms offer an attractive and accessible
resource which also contributes to the tourist appeal of the District.
However, public enjoyment of the District ultimately depends upon
its conservation. The Council therefore attaches a high priority to
maintaining the quality of Wealden's environment, particularly its
countryside, and to ensuring that the standard of tourist facilities
is of a similar high quality. |
| 11.6 |
In this context it is considered that
new large scale tourist facilities would normally be inappropriate
in rural areas. Instead the promotion of further tourist facilities
in rural areas should primarily be aimed at small scale enterprises
that draw on the character of the countryside itself, its natural
beauty, culture, history and wildlife. Sustainable tourist facilities
will be encouraged where they assist the purposes of conservation
and recreation, for example, by bringing appropriate new uses to historic
buildings or opening up new opportunities for access to the countryside
by foot and cycle, such as the "Tourism Without Traffic" project in
the South Downs which promotes car-free tourism. |
| 11.7 |
Within the towns and villages, a careful
balance needs to be struck between the needs of the visitor and the
resident population, particularly in historic villages. Proposals
which are unsympathetic or out of scale or character with the village
and its surroundings will be firmly resisted. |
| 11.8 |
An increasing number of tourism activities
flow from farm diversification schemes such as farm trails, farm shops
and the conversion of rural buildings for accommodation. The latter
can be undertaken within Policy DC7 which normally seeks to resist
extensions or new buildings. However, where environmental considerations
can be met, small scale new development in association with a scheme
for conversion could exceptionally be permitted in the interests of
farm diversification and the promotion of tourism facilities. |
|
|
| |
| Policy TM1 |
| Proposals for new
or extended tourist attractions and facilities outside the development
boundaries as defined on the Proposals Map, will be permitted,
provided that the following criteria are met: |
| (1) |
the proposed development
would respect and where possible, enhance the character, heritage
and environmental quality of the area; |
| (2) |
the proposed development
would not be detrimental to the amenities of nearby residents; |
| (3) |
the proposed development
would not create or exacerbate traffic problems in the surrounding
area. |
| (4) |
new floorspace is
created through the conversion of appropriate existing buildings
(see Policy DC7). Exceptionally, an element of new build may
be permitted to support tourism related activities when the
above criteria can be met. |
| (5) |
the proposed development
is small in scale. Exceptionally, large scale proposals may
be permitted provided that the environmental impact and associated
visitor management problems are minimal and criteria (1) to
(4) are met. |
| Proposals for new
or extended tourist attractions and facilities within the development
boundaries as defined on the Proposals Map will be permitted
when they meet criteria (1) - (3) above. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| 11.9 |
Many tourism activities are undertaken
in the countryside by tourists and residents alike including golf,
horse-riding, fishing, motor and gun sports. The relevant policies
for such developments are put forward in Chapter 6, Development in
the Countryside. |
| |
Accommodation |
| 11.10 |
The availability of a wide range of high
quality visitor accommodation is clearly necessary for a successful
tourist industry. It is therefore important to resist the loss of
such accommodation whenever possible and to facilitate additions and
improvements where there is no conflict with the conservation of the
environment. |
| |
Hotels & Serviced Accommodation |
| 11.11 |
Provision has already been made for overnight
accommodation in hotel/motels on primary routes in accordance with
the County Council's strategy for roadside facilities including a
proposal at the new A27/A22 Polegate roundabout. |
| 11.12 |
Elsewhere in the District, including alongside
non-primary roads, new hotel accommodation will be resisted unless
it falls within the urban areas as defined by the development boundaries.
This is in order to support such facilities in a sustainable manner
in towns and villages, in accordance with Structure Plan policies
and Policy TR4. |
| 11.13 |
In view of the demand for overnight accommodation
in hotels, particularly budget hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast
establishments, and the importance of the industry to the economy
of the District, the loss of such accommodation will be resisted unless
a sound economic case is made and demonstrated through factors including
effective marketing. |
|
|
| |
| Policy TM2 |
| Existing overnight
accommodation in hotels, motels, guest houses and bed and breakfast
establishments will be safeguarded and their change of use to
other purposes will not be permitted except where: - |
| (1) |
it is satisfactorily
demonstrated that the premises, with or without adaptation,
are no longer capable of viable economic use for overnight accommodation; |
| (2) |
it is demonstrated
that there is no demand at present or likely to arise in the
foreseeable future to justify continuation of the existing use. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Caravan and Camping Sites |
| 11.14 |
Whilst the Council wishes to ensure that
there are adequate facilities for caravanning and camping in the District
to meet future demands, this objective must be balanced with the need
to protect and conserve the environment that attracts holidaymakers
in the first place. Holiday caravan sites can be very intrusive in
the landscape, especially on the coast, and static caravan sites can
have a particularly damaging impact. Touring caravan and camping sites
generally have a lesser impact due to their lower density, seasonal
use (mainly during the summer when vegetation cover is greatest).
As there is still a demand for such sites, proposals for the change
of use of touring pitches to static pitches will generally be resisted.
The South East England Tourist Board sees little scope for the further
development of static caravan parks; the main emphasis should be placed
on the upgrading and improvement of existing facilities rather than
any additional provision of sites. The Council will encourage the
improvement of landscaping on existing caravan and camping sites,
particularly along the coastline. |
| 11.15 |
In view of the above considerations, proposals
for new static caravan sites are unlikely to be permitted, but proposals
will be considered under policy TM1. However, the Council will seek
to encourage improvements to existing caravan sites by allowing their
expansion where this would enable improved layouts or better landscaping
to be implemented, and where it meets the criteria of Policy TM1.
|
|
|
| |
| Policy TM3 |
| Proposals for the
change of use of touring pitches to static pitches, will not
be permitted. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| 11.16 |
The South-East England Tourist Board advises
that there is still a demand for sites for touring caravans, particularly
closer to coastal areas. The Structure Plan also highlights the demand
for good quality caravan and camping sites, particularly in the eastern
Low Weald area. However, the high quality of the landscape in Wealden
limits the number of locations where the further provision of touring
caravan and camping facilities might be permitted, and careful consideration
needs to be given to proposals for new sites, especially in designated
areas. |
| 11.17 |
The Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty and the Ashdown Forest have landscapes of exceptional quality
and sensitivity where caravan or camping parks would inevitably be
visually intrusive or otherwise damaging to the unspoilt, often remote,
rural character. Proposals for such facilities will therefore be firmly
resisted. The Coastal Levels, including the Pevensey Bay area where
demand for caravan and camping facilities is highest, comprise a flat,
open and visually exposed landscape, which forms the setting for Pevensey
Castle and the historic villages of Pevensey and Westham. It is not
considered that the further provision of such facilities can be sustained
in this location without unacceptable damage to its landscape character.
However, extensions to existing sites may be permitted where the proposals
would result in improved layouts and landscaping. Within both the
Sussex Downs and the Coastal Levels, small sites for lightweight tents
may be permitted in appropriate locations. |
| 11.18 |
The demand for touring caravan and camping
facilities has been and can continue to be partly met by providing
new small sites in the Low Weald area, where the gently undulating
nature of the landscape is more suited to accommodating such facilities
than the adjoining areas. It is also considered that some further
limited provision for small touring sites could also be made within
the High Weald Area, outside of the Ashdown Forest, particularly in
view of its heavily wooded character and pronounced valleys. However,
any proposal within this area must respect and conserve the high quality
character and appearance of the High Weald landscape. |
|
|
| |
| Policy TM4 |
| Proposals for new
or extended touring caravan, and camping facilities will be
permitted where the following criteria are met: |
| (1) |
there is good accessibility
from the primary or secondary route network, but the proposal
would not create a new direct access or intensify use of an
existing access onto a trunk road, nor preferably onto a primary
road; |
| (2) |
the size and scale
of the proposal would be compatible in terms of appearance and
intensity of use with its location; |
| (3) |
the proposal would
not be visually intrusive in the landscape and would be well
screened by existing vegetation, particularly in locations within
or adjacent to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; |
| (4) |
the proposal would
be adequately landscaped, both within and around the site; |
| (5) |
on large sites, adequate
provision would be made for the recreational needs of site users; |
| (6) |
the proposal would
not result in an unacceptable concentration of caravan or camping
sites; |
| (7) |
in the case of extensions,
the proposals should result in an improved layout and landscaping; |
| (8) |
within the Sussex
Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Coastal Levels,
only proposals for small sites for lightweight tents will be
permitted, in appropriate locations; |
| Within the Ashdown
Forest (as defined on the Proposals Map), proposals for touring
caravan and camping facilities will not be permitted. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Residential Mobile Homes |
| 11.19 |
Residential mobile homes can have a greater
impact than static holiday caravans on the character and appearance
of the countryside, with pressure for ancillary development such as
extensions, outbuildings, or pressure for their replacement with permanent
buildings or dwellings. They can also place more pressures on local
community services and may not be in sustainable locations. The change
of use from static holiday caravans to residential mobile homes could
also lead to a loss of self-catering accommodation, of which there
is considered to be a shortage by South East England Tourist Board.
For these reasons such change of use will be resisted. |
|
|
| |
| Policy TM5 |
| The change of use
of static holiday caravans to residential mobile homes will
not be permitted. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Caravan Storage |
| 11.20 |
There is a demand for storage facilities
for touring caravans in the countryside. However, it must be recognised
that the storage of caravans can, by its very nature, be visually
intrusive in a rural or other sensitive landscape setting. Typically,
caravans are stored outdoors in close proximity to one another and
are normally only removed for short periods during the summer. The
resulting visual impact can be as harmful as that of a static caravan
site or other forms of outside storage. |
| 11.21 |
Proposals for such facilities will be
expected to locate on appropriate business areas in accordance with
the criteria set down for storage uses in Policy BS1. However, the
storage of caravans inside barns or agricultural buildings may not
be intrusive on the landscape and may therefore be acceptable when
it complies with Policy DC7 and aids farm diversification. Particular
attention will be paid to access considerations. |
|
|
| |
| Policy TM6 |
| Proposals for the
outdoor storage of touring caravans will not be permitted in
the countryside (outside the development boundaries as defined
on the Proposals Map), unless they can be visually contained
within an existing complex of agricultural buildings, would
not detract from the appearance and character of the countryside,
and would not create traffic problems in the surrounding area. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| top |