Local Plan 2045 Scoping Consultation

7. Natural Environment

Where are we now?

7.1The Chichester plan area has a rich and varied natural environment stretching from the lowland marsh and creeks associated with Chichester Harbour and Pagham Harbour, across the coastal plain to the South Downs National Park, and the Weald further north.

7.2The plan area has a variety of internationally and European designated habitats: Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Ramsar sites, and nationally designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Across the District (including the South Downs National Park) only 36.4% of SSSI units are in a favourable condition. The Solent, including Chichester and Langstone Harbours, is identified as a nutrient neutrality catchment which means that the impact of nutrients (in this case nitrogen) from wastewater from new development in part of the plan area must be mitigated. At present this is primarily addressed by the sale of nutrient mitigation credits from private mitigation schemes. The council is part of the Solent Mitigation Partnership and in future Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) are expected to provide another option for developers to purchase credits.

7.3The plan area’s natural landscape is under significant development pressure to accommodate a range of needs, from farming to sport and leisure and housing. This includes pressure to build on agricultural land classified as best and most versatile and increased recreational pressure on sensitive coastal and countryside sites as a result of housing growth. Managing the need for food security as well as visitor access to the high-quality natural environment will require coordinated strategic solutions.

7.4Chichester and Langstone Harbours, the Solent and Dorset Coast and Pagham Harbour are designated as internationally important wildlife sites (Special Protection Areas), due to the presence of protected bird populations and the habitats that support them. Strategies are in place to reduce recreational disturbance at these SPAs and at Medmerry Compensatory Habitat by providing information, education and rangers through the Bird Aware Solent Strategy and, for Pagham Harbour, through a Strategic Scheme of Access Management and Mitigation prepared with Arun District Council.

7.5Chichester Harbour is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – commonly known as Chichester Harbour National Landscape. Chichester Harbour Conservancy prepares a Chichester Harbour Management Plan on behalf of Chichester District Council and Havant Borough Councils.

7.6The Mens, Ebernoe Common and Singleton and Cocking Tunnels Special Areas of Conservation provide important foraging habitats for bats and potential impacts from development need to be considered.

7.7There are also various other local designations for biodiversity, heritage and landscape, such as National and Local Nature Reserves, as well as Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological sites.

7.8Strategic wildlife corridors are identified in the adopted local plan to help ensure connectivity for wildlife between the coastal plain, including Chichester Harbour, and the South Downs National Park.

7.9In the south of the plan area the coastline is covered by two Shoreline Management Plans, either side of Selsey Bill. Areas of the coast are already subject to coastal squeeze and sea level rise with a consequent risk of flooding and although the policy of the two Shoreline Management Plans for the plan area is currently ‘Hold the Line’, this is subject to funding. Proposals for the reinforcement of existing flood defences are being progressed by Coastal Partners.

7.10Overall, while the plan area benefits from an exceptional natural environment, it faces a range of pressures that can be addressed in the new local plan.

What are the challenges and opportunities?

Challenges

7.11Much of the plan area is subject to environmental designations meaning development tends to be focussed into specific areas such as the east-west corridor and Chichester city, with smaller amounts of development on the Manhood Peninsula and to the north of the plan area. Along the east-west corridor in particular there is a risk of settlement coalescence so preserving the identity of individual settlements will be important. Uneven distribution of green infrastructure and gaps in habitat connectivity are also issues facing the local plan area.

7.12The condition of some designated sites remains unfavourable with water quality being a known issue. As well as nutrient mitigation, groundwater infiltration in some areas increases the risk of sewer overflows. This is currently limiting development within the Apuldram (Chichester) wastewater treatment catchment. Surface water flooding is also an issue in parts of the plan area.

7.13Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change with sea level rise and coastal squeeze likely to increase in the future. These changes may result in the relocation of some coastal development, habitats and infrastructure being required.

Opportunities

7.14Maximise nature-based solutions which use natural features and processes, such as trees, wetlands, rivers, soils and green spaces, to help manage issues like flooding, coastal erosion and coastal squeeze, water quality, overheating and biodiversity loss while also improving places for people and wildlife.

7.15In the Chichester plan area, this could include safeguarding space for saltmarsh restoration around the coast, using wetlands and sustainable drainage to manage surface water, planting trees and hedgerows to support carbon sequestration, and improving green and blue corridors so habitats are better connected.

7.16Consider the need for Coastal Change Management Areas in areas affected by coastal erosion and sea level rise.

7.17Review the potential for landscape gaps to prevent coalescence of settlements.

7.18There may be opportunities to reinforce, and potentially refine or identify additional, strategic wildlife corridors.

7.19Increase the water efficiency of new development – further tightening of the water efficiency target is likely to come through Building Regulations so the plan will only need to address this if there is a need to go beyond the Building Regulations in specific areas, or to require offsetting of water use.

7.20Some topics such as biodiversity, biodiversity net gain, trees, hedgerows and woodland, countryside and landscape protection and more are likely to be covered by national decision-making policies so the new local plan will need to focus on strategic and locally specific issues, identifying environmental opportunities and safeguards and locating development accordingly.

7.21There is an opportunity to align the new local plan with the West Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy, helping to deliver coordinated landscape-scale nature recovery and linked habitats across administrative boundaries. The plan area’s extensive network of designated sites and high-quality landscapes provides a strong foundation for nature recovery and green infrastructure enhancement. Expanding and connecting these assets can deliver multiple benefits, including improved biodiversity, climate resilience, recreation and health and well-being.

What are the key priorities?

Minimise flood risk and respond to coastal change

7.22Apply a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development so that growth is directed away from areas at highest risk of tidal, fluvial, groundwater, surface water flooding. The local plan should consider how development can support long-term flood resilience, sustainable drainage, natural flood management and, if necessary, the identification of Coastal Change Management Areas. This priority links closely with the Climate Change section and will need to be informed by latest evidence and modelling, whether commissioned by the council or produced by the Environment Agency.

Protect and enhance designated sites, landscapes and their settings

7.23Ensure that the local plan protects the integrity of internationally and European designated wildlife sites, including those affected by recreational disturbance, nutrient pressures and other development-related impacts. The plan should also safeguard the special qualities of Chichester Harbour National Landscape and its setting, and the setting of the South Downs National Park, while identifying opportunities for enhancement where this can be achieved alongside sustainable growth.

Maximise nature-based solutions

7.24Use natural features and processes to help address multiple challenges, including flood risk, overheating, biodiversity loss, carbon storage and recreational pressure. This could include habitat creation and restoration, tree and hedgerow planting, woodland creation, wetland and saltmarsh restoration, sustainable drainage, river and chalk stream enhancement and multifunctional green and blue infrastructure. Nature-based solutions should be planned so they deliver combined benefits for people, wildlife, climate resilience and place-making.

Strengthen wildlife corridors and ecological networks

7.25Reinforce and, where appropriate, refine the strategic wildlife corridors that link the coast, Chichester Harbour, the coastal plain and the South Downs National Park. The local plan should identify opportunities to improve habitat connectivity, reduce fragmentation and support nature recovery at a landscape scale, including through site allocations, green infrastructure planning and biodiversity net gain delivery. Support the delivery of Nature Recovery Networks and align with the West Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Protect waterways and improve water quality

7.26Protect and enhance the plan area’s waterways, harbours, wetlands, chalk streams and groundwater resources. The local plan should ensure that growth is planned with water quality, wastewater capacity, nutrient neutrality and surface water management in mind, and should support measures that reduce pollution, improve river and harbour condition and increase resilience to climate change. The local plan should support strategic mitigation measures, access management and the provision of alternative natural greenspace to manage the impacts of increased visitor pressure on sensitive habitats.

Enhancing green and blue infrastructure

7.27Facilitate multifunctional green and blue infrastructure networks, including accessible green space, trees, woodland and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs), to support biodiversity, climate resilience and health and well-being.