Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document: Regulation 18 Consultation Main Document

Ends on 12 December 2024 (35 days remaining)

Chapter 3: Introduction

3.1. The submission Chichester Local Plan 2021-2039 will provide the broad policy framework and long-term strategy to manage development, protect the environment, deliver infrastructure and promote sustainable communities within the plan area up to 2039. In the proposed submission Local Plan (Regulation 19), Southbourne has been identified as a Broad Location for Development (BDL), consisting of mixed-use development to provide up to 1,050 dwellings, local employment opportunities and supporting community facilities.

3.2. The Local Plan will be complemented by the Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document (DPD), with site-specific policy considerations for Southbourne. The DPD will include a strategic site allocation to deliver the requirements for the BLD as identified in the submission Local Plan and will address key policy areas such as infrastructure, housing, transport, landscape and environmental impacts. Following the adoption of the Chichester Local Plan, the site boundary and details of the site allocation(s) will be defined by the DPD. Through collaboration between Chichester District Council (the council) and Southbourne Parish Council, the DPD will address and create robust policy to deliver comprehensively planned development and ultimately lead to a thriving and sustainable community.

What is a Site Allocation Development Plan Document (DPD)?

3.3. A site allocation DPD will form part of the Development Plan. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) must be taken into account in preparing the development plan. Paragraph 17 of the NPPF (2023) states that the development plan must include strategic policies to address each local planning authority's priorities for the development and use of land in its area. These strategic policies can be produced in different ways, depending on the issues and opportunities facing each area.

3.4. 'Development Plan Documents' are adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The NPPF states that site allocations can address strategic priorities in line with the requirements of Section 19 (1B-E) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The DPD must be in accordance with the strategic policies set out in the Local Plan but will focus on strategic development and site allocations within Southbourne.

3.5. The purpose of this DPD is to:

Identify development opportunities and infrastructure required in Southbourne to support the existing local community and to support new development.
Identify the location of development needed as required by the Local Plan.
Provide greater detail on development sites within Southbourne.
Ensure that the site allocations deliver the overarching policy objectives of the Local Plan and in particular Policy A13 (Southbourne Broad Location for Development) of the Local Plan.
Provide a comprehensive framework masterplan approach to development.
Inform the geographical extent and boundary of the site allocations.
Provide a means to assess relevant planning applications.
Inform the coordination, phasing and delivery of the housing and infrastructure requirements for the site allocations.

3.6. The DPD will be used to identify where strategic development will be acceptable in Southbourne and will form part of the Development Plan. This will help the council to make decisions on relevant planning applications and this gives local communities, developers and investors greater certainty about which sites will be coming forward for development if they are allocated in the DPD. This also provides an opportunity to control development through the site allocation policies.

Structure of the DPD

3.7. The structure of the future DPD will include:

Site context: assesses the key characteristics of Southbourne, provides an overview of constraints and identifies opportunities for development.
Vision and objectives: based on the priorities in the Chichester Local Plan and Southbourne Neighbourhood Plan, the vision describes the aspirations for Southbourne over the Plan period until 2039. To help deliver this vision a series of strategic objectives have been identified.
Infrastructure requirements: identify the requirements for the delivery of services, community and education infrastructure.
Development principles: sets out the spatial framework and key planning policy considerations for the site allocation at Southbourne, once selected, as well as the key design principles to support the vision and objectives outlined in Section 2.
Implementation and phasing: sets out the indicative phasing plan for development and key milestones for implementing key infrastructure requirements.
Monitoring and review.

Planning Policy Context

3.8. The DPD for Southbourne should be read in conjunction with other parts of the Development Plan once adopted:

Chichester Local Plan 2021-2039 (add adoption date)
West Sussex Waste Local Plan (April 2014)
West Sussex and South Downs Joint Minerals Plan (August 2018)
Southbourne Modified Neighbourhood Plan 2014-2029 (SMNP 2023)

National Context

3.9. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2023) is also a material consideration for planning decisions. The NPPF sets out the Government's planning policies and policy guidance for England. This must be taken into account in the preparation of Local Plans and Site Allocation DPDs. The NPPF confirms that the planning system is "plan-led" which means that planning applications must be determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

3.10. Local Plans must be prepared within the context set by the NPPF that embodies a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' (defined as 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs').The NPPF states that all plans should be based upon and reflect the presumption in favour of sustainable development, with clear policies that will guide how the presumption should be applied locally.

3.11. Proposed reforms to the NPPF are currently being consulted on until 24 September 2024. This consultation seeks views on the proposed approach to revising the NPPF to achieve sustainable growth in our planning system. The changes to the NPPF will be monitored alongside the preparation of this DPD and the final version of the DPD will reflect the requirements of the emerging NPPF.

Local Context

3.12. The current Chichester Local Plan covers the area outside the South Downs National Park (SDNP) and was adopted by Chichester District Council on 14 July 2015. It sets out the ouncil's overall approach for development up until 2029.

3.13. The Local Plan has recently been updated and the submission Chichester Local Plan 2021-2039, is currently at examination. This was consulted on in February and March 2023 and was submitted with proposed modifications to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination in May 2024.

3.14. The submission Chichester Local Plan identifies the overall spatial vision and economic, social and environmental objectives for the Local Plan area and the amount, type and broad location of development needed to fulfil those objectives. It also provides more detailed policies and development management policies to be used for planning applications, which have guided the site selection process.

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