Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document - Regulation 19 Consultation
Other elements in this consultation
Legislative and policy context
2.1In accordance with Section 70(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, planning applications have to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless there are material considerations that indicate otherwise. Comment
2.2On adoption, the Southbourne Allocation DPD will form part of the development plan and hence will form part of the statutory basis for determining planning applications in Southbourne, where they fall within the allocation area specified in this DPD. Comment
2.3In preparing this DPD the council has had due regard to the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act 1949, as amended by Section 245 of the Levelling Up & Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023 in relation to the South Downs National Park, and Section 85 of the Countryside and Right of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act) (as amended by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act3 2023) in relation to the Chichester Harbour National Landscape. Comment
The Local Plan
2.4The Chichester Local Plan 2021-2039 was adopted in August 2025. The CLP provides the overarching 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. Policy A13 of the Local Plan identifies the Southbourne Broad Location for Development (BLD), consisting of mixed-use development to provide approximately 800 dwellings, local employment opportunities and supporting community uses and facilities. Comment
2.5Policy A13 does not in itself provide for a specific allocation, nor is a precise boundary for the BLD defined within the CLP, as it is by definition a broad, rather than fixed area. Policy A13 sets out the role of the DPD:
“The site extent, definition of the boundary, including amendments to the Southbourne settlement boundary, and detailed guidance for the development within this broad location will be established through the making of allocation(s) in a future Site Allocation Development Plan Document.”
2.6The DPD also specifies a landscape gap as per the requirements of policy NE3 in the CLP. Policy NE 13 states that:
“In order to prevent coalescence of built-up areas, maintain the individual identity of settlements, actual or perceived, and ensure the integrity of predominantly open and undeveloped land between settlements is not undermined, the generally open and undeveloped nature of landscape gaps between settlements will be protected. Including by taking account of the landscape character, the precise boundaries of landscape gaps will be defined in either a Site Allocation DPD or through neighbourhood plans.”
Relationship between the Neighbourhood Plan and DPD
2.7The Southbourne Modified Neighbourhood Plan (SMNP) [1] was ‘made’ on 27 February 2024. This is the third version of the Southbourne Neighbourhood Plan. The SMNP vision recognises the focus upon the village as a growing settlement hub, while conserving and enhancing the local distinctiveness, character and cohesion of the other settlements, with the objectives being: Comment
- A strong, integrated community that all residents will feel part of & be proud of.
- A great place to live & work.
- Sensitively planned, with our landscape & heritage protected & celebrated.
- A settlement that sits comfortably & sustainably in its Sussex landscape, applauded for its protection & management of its environmental assets, its promotion of the health & wellbeing of residents including its visionary green ring & for its status as a haven for nature & wildlife.
- Adapted & prepared for climate change & zero carbon living.
Policies Map
2.8The schedule of changes to the policies map shows the site allocation and landscape gap designation that are pertinent to the determination of relevant planning applications. Comment
[1] Southbourne Neighbourhood Plan 2014-2029
