Local Plan 2045 Scoping Consultation

12. Strategic Infrastructure

Where are we now?

12.1The plan area is supported by an established infrastructure network, with the strongest concentration of services, employment and transport links located in Chichester city and along the east–west corridor. The adopted Local Plan sought to align growth with infrastructure provision, and while some infrastructure has been delivered or committed, much associated with new strategic allocations is still at an early stage. Some of this infrastructure is now committed and being delivered, such as an expansion of the Portfield Primary Academy, expansion to the Southbourne GP Surgery, and the development of car-free alternatives to travel through the delivery of real time passenger information boards for bus services. Other infrastructure projects to mitigate against planned growth have been identified through the council’s Infrastructure Business Plan (IBP), which prioritises projects and allocates in principle moneys received through the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to their delivery. The IBP is reviewed with infrastructure providers on an annual basis.

12.2Site specific infrastructure requirements will be carried forward with each strategic allocation. In addition, there is an updated Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) which will sit alongside the Southbourne Allocation DPD to set out the requirements for the strategic allocation at Southbourne.

12.3Transport infrastructure in the plan area includes the A27, local road network, bus services, rail services and walking and cycling routes. The A27 performs an important strategic role but is also a significant constraint, particularly around Chichester and along the east–west corridor. Parts of the plan area remain car-dependent, especially rural areas and places with more limited access to public transport. The adopted Plan is supported by a ‘monitor and manage’ approach to transport mitigation which is overseen by the Transport Infrastructure Management Group (TIMG).

12.4The adopted Local Plan was developed to ensure that wastewater capacity aligned with delivery of housing in areas where treatment capacity was limited. A Water Cycle Study will be needed to understand future wastewater capacity and inform spatial strategy choices at an early stage.

12.5The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) for the adopted Plan has now been incorporated into the Infrastructure Business Plan (IBP). The IBP includes all forms of infrastructure needed to support the adopted local plan. This includes transport, health, education, social care, community facilities, sport and recreation and open space.

12.6Green and blue infrastructure is also part of the wider infrastructure network. The plan area includes important natural-capital assets such as the coast, harbours, chalk streams, strategic wildlife corridors, open spaces and links to the South Downs National Park and Chichester Harbour National Landscape. These assets support biodiversity, recreation, health and well-being, flood resilience and climate adaptation.

12.7An updated Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Water Cycle Study, transport evidence and green and blue infrastructure evidence will be required to understand existing capacity, identify future needs, test growth options and set out how infrastructure can be delivered and funded. The infrastructure evidence will also be a key component in the viability testing of sites and emerging policy requirements.

What are the challenges and opportunities?

Challenges

12.8The main challenges around infrastructure provision are likely to be:

12.9Water and wastewater capacity is likely to be one of the most significant constraints on the level of and location of growth. Wastewater capacity, water supply, water company investment timing and nutrient neutrality could directly influence whether some spatial strategy options are feasible.

12.10The A27 and the wider transport network may limit growth, particularly around Chichester and the A259 east–west corridor. Transport modelling has long lead-in times and will need to shape, rather than simply test, the emerging spatial strategy, as well as informing the mitigation required.

12.11Growth options will need to consider how walking, cycling, bus and rail connections can be improved and whether sufficient growth could support new or enhanced public transport infrastructure.

12.12Infrastructure will need to be delivered alongside growth rather than after development has taken place but the challenge is the funding mechanisms which need certainty of the development taking place. This applies to transport, wastewater, health, education, social care, community facilities, green infrastructure, utilities, electricity grid capacity and digital connectivity.

12.13Electricity grid capacity may limit both housing growth and renewable-energy opportunities. Rural connectivity for renewable energy, particularly around the Manhood Peninsula, is likely to need strategic coordination with infrastructure providers.

12.14Growth will need to be matched by health, education, social care, community, sport and open space provision. These requirements will need to be tested through the development of a new Infrastructure Delivery Plan and secured through appropriate funding and delivery mechanisms, including developer contributions.

12.15Digital and mobile connectivity remains a challenge, particularly for rural communities. Local gaps in provision could affect economic resilience, service access and the ability of communities to benefit from digital-first approaches.

12.16Some infrastructure issues are strategic and cross-boundary in nature, including the A27 corridor, wastewater and nutrient neutrality, strategic green infrastructure, rail and sustainable movement, electricity grid capacity and cross-boundary growth. These issues may need to be considered through the emerging Sussex and Brighton Spatial Development Strategy as well as through the local plan.

12.17Evidence sequencing and governance will be a challenge. The Water Cycle Study, transport work and Infrastructure Delivery Plan will need to be available early enough to inform spatial strategy choices, while local government reorganisation and the emerging SDS may affect who owns, funds and delivers infrastructure later in the plan-making process.

12.18In summary, the challenge is not just about identifying infrastructure needs — it is about ensuring that the spatial strategy is genuinely infrastructure-led, deliverable and supported by timely investment in water, wastewater, transport, utilities, community infrastructure and green and blue infrastructure.

Opportunities

12.19A Water Cycle Studyundertaken early in the process provides an opportunity to identify the most sustainable and deliverable locations for growth and ensure that infrastructure constraints are understood from the outset.

12.20Green and blue infrastructure will need to be planned as part of the infrastructure network, supporting health and well-being, biodiversity, flood resilience and recreation pressure. This is particularly important given the links between the coast, harbours, chalk streams, wildlife corridors and the setting of the South Downs National Park and Chichester Harbour National Landscape.

12.21The rail corridor offers a significant opportunity to accommodate growth in locations with good public transport accessibility, particularly around existing stations or where enhanced public transport infrastructure could be justified. Growth could help support new or enhanced public transport infrastructure, creating opportunities for improved accessibility and more sustainable movement across the district.

12.22Enhanced walking, cycling and bus connections could better connect new communities to employment, services and facilities, improving accessibility and reducing travel demand.

12.23Cross-boundary working, including through the emerging Sussex and Brighton Spatial Development Strategy, offers opportunities to address strategic infrastructure issues more effectively and coordinate investment across wider geographies.

12.24Infrastructure planning through a new Infrastructure Delivery Plan provides an opportunity to coordinate investment, prioritise infrastructure requirements and align growth with service provision.

12.25In relation to the draft NPPF amending the scope of the new local plan policies around infrastructure, it includes decision-making policies which cover telecommunications infrastructure and renewable and low carbon energy development and electricity network infrastructure. It also includes a decision-making policy around water infrastructure. The ‘promoting sustainable transport’ chapter of the draft NPPF includes a suite of decision-making policies and the new local plan will need to avoid repeating the detail of those policies.

What are the key priorities?

12.26The local plan will need to consider the following key priorities for infrastructure:

Infrastructure led spatial strategy

12.27Ensuring the spatial strategy is infrastructure-led, with growth located and phased where essential infrastructure can be provided in a timely and deliverable way.

Early understanding of water supply and wastewater capacity

12.28Understanding and addressing water supply and wastewater capacity as early potential constraints on growth, informed by a Water Cycle Study and early engagement with Southern Water, Portsmouth Water, Thames Water and other relevant infrastructure providers.

Vision-led transport approach

12.29Understanding transport infrastructure requirements, particularly in relation to the A27 corridor, informed by early transport modelling and engagement with National Highways and West Sussex County Council and other relevant transport providers, such as bus and rail companies.

12.30Supporting active travel, sustainable transport, and rail-led growth where this can reduce car dependency, improve access to services and make best use of public transport, walking and cycling routes.

Community infrastructure and service provision

12.31Ensuring new development is supported by the health, education, social care, community and utilities infrastructure needed to create sustainable and inclusive communities.

Energy infrastructure and net zero transition

12.32Planning positively for electricity grid capacity and renewable-energy infrastructure to support low-carbon growth and the transition to net zero.

Green and blue infrastructure network provision

12.33Embedding strategic green and blue infrastructure as part of the infrastructure network, supporting health and well-being, nature recovery, flood resilience and connections between the coast, harbour, chalk streams, wildlife corridors and the protecting the setting of the South Downs National Park and Chichester Harbour National Landscape.

Digital connectivity

12.34Improving digital and mobile connectivity, particularly where rural areas experience gaps in provision and where a locally specific policy response may be justified.

Strategic and cross-boundary infrastructure planning

12.35Working with infrastructure providers and neighbouring authorities to address cross-boundary and strategic infrastructure issues, including those that may need to be considered through the emerging Sussex and Brighton Spatial Development Strategy.

Updated infrastructure delivery plan and funding

12.36Preparing an updated Infrastructure Delivery Plan to identify the infrastructure required to support growth, how it will be delivered, when it will be needed and how it may be funded.