Baseline Evidence Paper

1 Introduction

1.1This paper sets out the baseline information for the Chichester local plan area (Chichester District excluding that part within the South Downs National Park). Baseline data provides a snapshot of the current environmental, economic and social conditions in the plan area. This information, along with analysis, will inform the early stages of the preparation of the Chichester Local Plan 2045, including the scoping consultation.

1.2Collecting baseline data also helps the planning authority to meet the ‘survey of area’ requirement set out in section 13 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

1.3A review of a wide range of data sources has been undertaken, based on government guidance^[1], including data maintained by Chichester District Council, as well as from external sources including the Office of National Statistics and government data sets. Internal data sources include the council’s latest Authority’s Monitoring Report 2024-2025. This report provides information and data relating to the performance, implementation and effects of the Chichester Local Plan: Key Policies 2014-2029, which has been superseded, however there are elements of the report which remain relevant to the council’s current adopted Local Plan 2021-2039, and given the current plan was adopted in October 2025 there has not been an entire year’s worth of monitoring on the current plan to draw from.

1.4Data collected has been categorised into seven topic areas, which form the topic headings for the Scoping Consultation document.

^[1] Gathering baselining information to inform a local plan - GOV.UK