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Rottingdean Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) - Status Report. Brighton and Hove City Council has just published its status report to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DETR) about the management of the designated air quality management areas in Brighton and Hove including Rottingdean High Street. In summary the report states that
- Rottingdean High Street is designated AQMA2, covering the B2123 from the A259 junction to Vicarage Lane. It was declared in 2013 and amended in November 2020 because of annual-average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
- Air quality has improved substantially. NO₂ was historically recorded at 47 µg/m³, but fell to around 24 µg/m³ in 2024 and 2025—well below the current UK annual limit of 40 µg/m³.
- The High Street monitoring site has now complied with the national standard for four consecutive years. However, the report says any removal of the AQMA designation should follow a detailed, systematic review before the current action plan expires in November 2027.
- The report identifies several monitoring locations around the High Street, Marine Drive and seafront. The main roadside result for 2025 was 24.1 µg/m³, around 4.6 times the rural background level, but still below both the UK limit and the council’s local target of 30 µg/m³.
- Rottingdean Beach had particularly clean air, recording 10.0 µg/m³ NO₂ in 2025. The report says this met the World Health Organization guideline for the first time and describes the beach as a clean-air location used throughout the year.
- Traffic on the A259 has generally declined over the longer term, although light vans and similar vehicles have increased. Heavy-goods traffic on Rottingdean High Street rose after the pandemic; the report suggests this may be connected with local housebuilding. The narrow High Street makes passing HGVs particularly problematic.
- Overall, the report presents Rottingdean as an area where roadside pollution has improved and now meets current legal standards, while the seafront has much cleaner background air. Continued monitoring and assessment are still recommended. See the full report
Land to the West of Hog Platt
This parcel of land is being disposed of as part of a programme across Brighton and Hove to transfer assets from the City Council. The current discussions about the transfer of the Head Lease of the Grange to the Community also stem from this programme.
We have been advised by BHCC that
- The parcel of land is being sold, but not for potential development; and
- An initial discussion has taken place with the tenant about acquiring the land and continuing to occupy it as pony paddocks.
- The tenant has been given time to consider the opportunity. No deadline has been set, and discussions between the council and the tenant are continuing.
BHCC has agreed to keep the Parish Council informed of any developments.
It’s worth noting that the land is marked as an ‘Open Space’ in the City Plan Parts 1 and 2 and has protection from development under the terms policy CP16. In addition, the area is also listed as a Wildlife Corridor in the Neighbourhood Plan that also affords it protection under policy GOS3.
For the moment, as there is no immediate threat of the land being developed and discussions with the current tenant are continuing, we are monitoring the situation.
However, if the situation changes Councillors will consider if the Parish Council should intervene.
Parish Council Meeting 5th of October – Key Points
· The sale of grazing land at Hoggs Platt. A number of people present raised concern about the sale by the City Council of grazing land adjacent to Hoggs Platt. Councillors agreed to investigate the matter with Brighton and Hove City Council
· The latest position on Beacon Hill. The meeting Chair set out the latest position on the Beacon Hill Management Plan for 2026/27
BHCC intended to continue sheep grazing as the preferred way to manage the rare chalk-grassland habitat; cutting was considered less suitable for nesting birds and more expensive because of contaminated waste.
Grazing would be limited to November to February, but BHCC wanted to replace electric enclosures with a new boundary fence and open-grazing approach.
Following strong public concern, RPC asked BHCC to halt work on a permanent fence and continue with electric fencing while alternatives are properly discussed and assessed based on evidence.
The immediate priority was to complete grazing before the skylark nesting season. BHCC had now paused fence groundworks, confirm that for this year the site will be grazed with the sheep being removed before the ground nesting bird season and the Hill will not be free grazed as originally proposed while discussions continue.
· The publication of High Street survey results. Councillors agreed the publication of the High Street Survey results
· Traders Event. Councillors agreed arrangements for a Rottingdean Traders Event in November. The event is intended to provide an opportunity to discuss the High Street Upgrade project, the main findings from the High Street resident survey; and some of the actions the Parish Council is considering or already taking in response.
For full details see the October meeting minutes
Parish Council Survey Results - What you told us about Rottingdean High Street
Over the summer, we have been running a survey to find out what people think about the shops and services in Rottingdean High Street, what concerns them and what they would like to see.
We had more than 330 responses – thank you to everyone who took part. A summary is available here, but these were some of the clearest messages.
Nearly three quarters of respondents use the village centre most days or several times a week, mainly for everyday shopping and for pubs and cafés. Of these, 90% walk there. Traffic and the pedestrian environment are greater concerns than parking.
People do not simply want the existing High Street preserved: they would like a greater variety of shops and services. A pharmacy and a bakery were the two things most often requested. Banking services were also mentioned, but don’t forget that the Post Office provides these – cash withdrawals, deposits and cheque pay-ins.
There is also real concern about the future. Empty premises topped the list of worries, followed by traffic problems and the loss of existing shops and services.
The Parish Council will be looking at what it can do to support the High Street and encourage a wider range of businesses. But you can help too.
When you are already in the village for a coffee, a meal or a drink, could you buy something else locally rather than getting it elsewhere or online? Small changes in where we spend our money can make a real difference to whether local businesses survive and new ones are attracted.
Even if they haven’t got what you want in store at the time, many shops can order the goods for you at no extra cost. And they are very flexible on how you can pay them – card, contactless and good, old-fashioned cash!
If we value our High Street, we need to use it.
See News Section for more
Rottingdean Parish Council
Rottingdean is the only Parish Council in the Brighton and Hove area funded by a small addition to the Council Tax (the precept). There are 9 Councillors elected every four years. Rottingdean Council’s aim is to:
- To preserve and protect the natural environment, seafront, green spaces and character of our village
- To promote and enhance the quality of village community life, services and amenities
- To monitor and influence priorities for the development of the built environment, highways, traffic, and pathways by working closely with relevant BHCC departments
In all our work and indeed in deciding how best to use our delegated powers the Parish Councillors, who remain unremunerated, always have the best interests of residents in mind. Having a Parish Council is a vital part of local democracy ensuring the Rottingdean residents have much more say in the future of the village and that the interests of residents are directly represented in wider decisions on infrastructure and planning. The Parish Council’s delegated powers mean we can contribute to a range of local services and amenities which may otherwise be given a much lower priority given the pressures on Brighton and Hove City Council.
Supporting Activity
To preserve and protect the natural environment, seafront, green spaces and character of our village
- By maintaining the Village Pond
- Through the Beacon Hill Nature Reserve Stewardship Group
- The installation of a new Pond Path
To promote and enhance the quality of village community life, services and amenities
- Making the Lower High Street a pedestrian priority area
- Refurbishing Park Road Toilets
- Providing Grant funding to local community groups and charities
- Providing a new green space at the centre of the Village – St Aubyns Field
- Supporting artistic and cultural events
- Promoting tourism and economic activity
- Working with BHCC to improve the Air Quality in the High Street
To monitor and influence priorities for the development of the built environment, highways, traffic, and pathways by working closely with relevant BHCC departments
- Scrutinising all planning applications
- Working with BHCC to manage Air Quality
- Co-funding pavement repair on the High Street
- Working with BHCC on a solution for lighting of the Twitten
Rottingdean Council is funded by a small amount added to the Council tax (the Council tax precept) that is agreed in April each year. Funds are used to improve to the village environment and make grants and donations to initiatives and activities which benefit the Community. Our grant application form and guidance can be found here
The Parish Council has a number of Advisory Groups that consider the detail of proposals and make recommendations to the full Parish Council to consider. See more here
First created in November 2010, this website is regularly updated and new ideas for content are often added. As well as providing public information, the Parish Council wishes to hear your feedback, ideas and comments, so please e-mail your views direct to us at parish.clerk@rottingdean-pc.gov.uk
The current Rottingdean Parish Councillors are:
Clerk to the Parish Council: Chris Hayes
