The plan should ensure that linked spaces are maintained between allocated sites and or proposed development and existing development. Land which plays an important role in the setting of Chichester, surrounding villages, the National Park and AONB should be so identified in the local plan and policies allocated to ensure their protection and enhancement; similarly important spaces vulnerable to coalescence through development.

The plan must include policies that add an additional layer of protection to important areas, confirming that open countryside and land outside settlement boundaries (particularly that identified as having an additional important function) does not carry with it a presumption in favour of any development; the new local plan being applied as a whole.Suitable land for additional policy protection must be identified by the role it plays to the benefit of the plan as a whole and subjected to a suitable, site specific policy – such as important landscape, landscape gap etc. Any development proposed in such a location would be policy compliant only if it was proven not to remove or prejudice the justification for the land’s designation.

The Plan should include a need to protect areas of important countryside, where there is a risk of coalescence or gradual coalescence over time, or where development would erode the provision of open green or blue space to the detriment of the community.

The importance of access to open, linked green and blue spaces cannot be underestimated.

The definition of land as Countryside or land located beyond the settlement edge, while offering a level of protection, is an insufficient policy constraint to speculative housing driven justified by local housing demand.

The plan must make appropriate and robust provision for housing need within the material constraints imposed on the District, with those constraints being supported by clear policy.