The following comments reflect serious concerns that the views of parishioners, not least on the Manhood Peninsular, have not and are not being heard, understood and acted upon in the preparation of the local plan.They support Birdham Village Residents Association and the Birdham Parish Council in their efforts to achieve common-sense, fairness and realisation based on factual appraisal of true needs for housing and practical needs of our communities, but may not represent their views necessarily.

In summary, the cumulative effect on eg Birdham, which has taken a large amount of housing already, is potentially the end of the ‘village’. How relevant and valid is the housing needs assessment to Birdham? CDC should be firm and resolute in resisting any such interim policies allowing more development, and certainly in the run-up to and during the review of the local plan.

CDC has outlined the need for 600 homes a year for the next 10 years. This equates to some 6,000 homes, and, say, at least 15,000 people and 30,000 vehicles. And, crucially, NONE in the National Park - so ALL South of Midhurst.

Meanwhile, right now we have the need for this in the context of the bigger picture for the UK: post-EU - very soon - international trade negotiations with eg US, China, EU, Australasia, Asia-Pacific; post COVID-19 the new normal for working, at what, where, for whom and the implications for locations, offices, employees’ homes and the consequent infrastructure support.

The highly likely essential demand for the UK to be more self-sufficient not least for eg food production would have far-reaching impact on farmers, farm land, processing and distribution, all contrary to the current scramble to sell-off of farm land and greenfield sites for alleged housing requirements.

Many commentators have erupted to the knee-jerk reaction to ‘build, build, build’ to kick-start the economy when ‘the planning system is not fit for purpose’. Residential planning permissions for the most recent plan period in support of a government target of 300,000 each year by 2025 were in fact 362,00 - homes not near jobs, ie not in the right place, and in the last five years fewer than half of new homes are, or will be within a mile of a rail station.

Finally, back to parochial matters - four current planning sites/issues in Birdham could see another nearly 400 homes built - approaching a 50 per cent increase of the ‘village’. They shall and should be vigorously opposed, in any event.