I believe the that the Draft Interim Housing Policy Statement is unsustainable in these respects:
• It takes no account of climate change and the Environmental Agency’s own prediction as to flooding levels in our area. Indeed, The National Policy Planning Framework states that “development in areas of risk is inappropriate and should be avoided”.
• It proposes construction of houses in an unsustainable manner. Building must get much closer to being carbon neutral. It must be much more energy efficient than units currently being built.
• It will impact on precious eco systems; of most significance our five chalk streams (to remind: there are only 210 of these worldwide). All must be included in the CDC’s plan. One, Newells Lane, has been omitted entirely. There is only a 200m buffer zone around the others. They are essential to continue the historic connectivity of the SDNP and CHAONB and the concomitant species survival on which, in turn, depends human existence.
• It largely ignores that in this area all future development must be nutrient neutral. A recent study by Natural England into the condition of Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest reports 80% of the area is classed as “unfavourable declining” with consequential disturbance to habitat and species, increased nitrates and coastal squeeze.
• It currently ignores the need for effective place making. It does not plan, as it must, for the necessary infrastructure to be in place before development begins.