THE APPROVAL of plans for the Bexhill to Hastings link road could be pivotal in saving rural Rother from shouldering the burden of new housing for the area.

As part of the South East Plan for development of the area, Rother is expected to provide at least 5,600 new homes by 2026, amounting to 280 a year.

Much of how these homes would be distributed across the district and how development would be scheduled was dependent upon approval of the link road, which has been granted by East Sussex County Council.

The county council planning committee has decided to refer the application to central Government, as the scheme is contrary to preservation of landscape and biodiversity policies, but it is hoped that the overall benefits the road will provide will see it passed.

David Marlow the principal planning officer for strategy and environment at Rother explained that the district council was desperate to move the project forward as quickly as possible.

"The council strongly supports the early construction of the link road as a critical component of the strategy and will work with the respective highway authorities and other bodies to bring this about," he said.

Rother District Council has divided its areas for housing distribution into four parts, Bexhill, Rye, Battle and Villages and is considering a number of factors as part of its consultation.

With approval of the link road, Rother is hoping to be able to build up to 4,000 homes in the Bexhill area.

This will reduce the number that will have to be placed in more rural areas to around 1,000.

Mr Marlow warned that delays at Bexhill may require the other areas to take a higher proportion of building in the next few years, but that the council is committed to maintaining the rural quality of its villages.

Mr Marlow said: "The council may have to adjust the timing of some developments to maintain a supply of housing land, but will not let this lead to a high growth in one particular settlement."

He added: "More importantly, and this is where we may risk the wrath of Government, the council proposes that a reallocation of development from Bexhill into the rural parts of Rother should be resisted."

"The decision of the county council on the link road is in line with Rother's emerging planning strategy for Bexhill and would clearly enable the release of allocated sites that are needed to provide for business growth as well as housing.

" It is also hoped that it will stimulate investment in the town centre in due course."