Comment
Local Plan Review: Preferred Approach 2016-2035
Representation ID: 2554
Received: 07/02/2019
Respondent: Chichester Harbour Trust
Concerned about the potential adverse impact of additional housing requirement on the water quality of Chichester Harbour.
Chichester Harbour SSSI at risk of being downgraded to Unfavourable - no change - failing of authorities to adequately manage the nutrient input into the harbour by the three Waste Water Treatment Works.
There needs to be critical analysis of the capacity of the WWTW to cope with additional inputs from the numbers of new houses proposes with a robust strategy to manage this input, given the current unacceptable levels of storm discharges into the Harbour (data available from the Environment Agency).
We object to the allocation site at Highgrove Farm, Bosham with approximately 13 ha of open countryside allocated to a minimum of 250 houses.
This development in the countryside directly conflicts with policy S24 Countryside and Policy S26 the Natural Environment; which clearly states there should be no adverse impact on the openness of views in and around the coast, designated environmental areas (i.e. the AONB) and the setting of the South Downs National Park. The proposed development at Highgrove Farm directly contradicts these policies.
We strongly believe that this development would cause irretrievable harm to the landscape character, setting and context of Chichester Harbour AONB and the intervisibility with the South Downs National Park. We feel that the measures proposed within the policy would not be able to sufficiently mitigate for the damage this development would cause.