Have a look at the final version of the structure plan for Wealden area (on the council web-site http://www..wealden.gov.uk)
Pevensey Bay Housing Policy Area (extract)
Development Boundary
19.31.3 Pevensey Bay has developed along a gently curving bay that extends from Langney Point in the west to Bexhill in the east. From the edge of the village there are far-reaching views both along the coast towards Eastbourne and Hastings, and inland across the low-lying countryside of the Coastal Levels to the Herstmonceux ridge. To the north, the Pevensey Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve form an area of great landscape and wildlife value.
19.31.4 The village itself has a strongly linear form, with two miles of almost
continuously built-up frontage along the beach. The settlement mainly comprises
inter-War bungalow development, much of it set on an exposed shingle bank along
the sea-front, but with further estate development extending inland onto the
low-lying Levels. Two Martello towers, constructed in 1806 as a Napoleonic coastal
defence, form distinctive landmarks within the village. To the west of Pevensey
Bay, several large caravan and camping sites are located either side of the
A259 Eastbourne Road, reflecting the area's popularity with
holidaymakers during the summer months. Development Boundary
19.31.5 It is important to prevent the further outward growth of Pevensey Bay
in order to protect the open and exposed landscape setting, to maintain its
separation from Eastbourne and to safeguard development from areas at risk of
flooding and storm damage from the sea.
19.31.6 On the landward side of the settlement, the development boundary follows
the clearly defined line formed by Salt Haven, properties on the Beachlands
Estate and existing residential development off the A259. It incorporates the
ribbon of houses extending along the eastern extremity of Coast Road towards
the District boundary, but excludes the full depths of curtilages since it is
considered that development in this location would be alien to the established
settlement pattern and detract from both the open setting of the village and
the amenities of neighbouring properties.
19.31.7 Along the sea-front, the development boundary generally follows the
established building line of the properties fronting the beach as further development
seaward of this line would be intrusive in views along the beach.
19.31.8 At the south-western extremity of the village beyond Timberlaine Road, an area of shingle extends to the Eastbourne boundary, much of it occupied by three large caravan parks. Development here would be contrary to Policy EN17 which seeks to prevent the coalescence of Pevensey Bay and Eastbourne.
19.31.9 Some additional housebuilding within the development boundary may be
appropriate, subject to satisfying normal planning criteria. However, the compact
nature of existing development provides only limited opportunities for new housing
by infilling, by the redevelopment of existing sites and by the conversion of
buildings to residential use.
Coastal Protection
19.31.10 The shingle beach at Pevensey Bay provides an important defence against flooding and storm damage from the sea for a large area of low-lying land beyond. Sea defences are the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA), whose consent is required, in addition to planning permission, for any development which might affect the stability of the shingle embankment or impede access for maintenance purposes. For these reasons, it also operates a presumption against any development seaward of the existing building line. Furthermore, it considers that the outward expansion of Pevensey Bay into the surrounding Levels and along the shingle bank would be inappropriate because of the flood risk.
19.31.11 Owing to the exposed location of Pevensey Bay between the sea and the
Levels, much of the settlement is also at risk from flooding if a breach of
the sea defences should occur. To reduce this risk the EA propose to undertake
major improvement works to the defences along this stretch of coastline, involving
a widened beach. This will have a significant visual impact along the seafront.