This is an aspirational and laudable vision but it is not reflected within the actual Policies in the Plan. 3.19 The Objectives of the Chichester Local Plan to be achieved by 2035

ENVIRONMENT
AONBs are designated by the Government for the purpose of ensuring that the finest landscapes in England and Wales are conserved and enhanced. In planning policy terms they have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty, equal to National Parks.
The NPPF states that great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty of AONBs (para 172).

Policy AL6 - to accommodate a raised road, industrial estate and minimum of 100 dwellings Causing Destruction of:

Wildlife habitats-
"Landscapes of great wildlife importance", proven habitats for nationally protected species thus the loss of this areas' important biodiversity and habitat fragmentation on the fringes of the AONB.

Landscape and Heritage-
"...the rural foreground in views to the Cathedral from Chichester Harbour" and of the Cathedral from the sea, the last remaining view of a Cathedral from the coast in England. The views of the South Downs framing this historic, famous Cathedral.

"... the landscape pattern that dates from the late post-medieval planned private enclosure associated with Apuldram Hamlet"

Many of these fields earmarked for development were covenanted to the National Trust many years ago for the protection of these vital assets.

(The quotes are taken from Landscape Appendix: Chichester District Council Landscape Capacity Study)

Increasing noise, light, soil and air pollution:

An elevated link road will negatively impact on the dark skies area of the AONB across this flat harbour area. The increase in noise pollution from the industrial park and raised road will destroy the value of the AONB. Any mitigation will obliterate the historic Landscape views of the Cathedral from the harbour.

Air pollution will increase with the mitigation described in PBS Transport Study and CDC will violate air quality levels throughout the plan period

ECONOMY
Rural Economy
West Sussex Grower's Association show in their Growing Together Strategic Plan 2017, West Sussex produces over £1billion in annual sales of fruit, vegetables, salads and plants and employs more than 9,000 people, employing 65% in the Chichester area. They proceed to state that their members require additional land for the successful growth of the local horticultural industry. The Local Plan area has the best natural light, longest daylight hours and some of the most fertile agricultural soils in the county, yet we are destroying this prized asset by building on it. This does little to grow the rural economy as stated in the objectives.

Tourism
Tourism from the Manhood Peninsula alone brings in £141m annually, attracting large numbers of visitors with its blue flag beaches, sailing opportunities and nature sites at Chichester AONB, Pagham and Medmerry harbours. There is no mention in this section of growing Chichester's sustainable tourism economy with an environmental focus.

3.7 The planning policies for the areas of Donnington & Apuldram, Fishbourne, Bosham, Chidham and Hambrook in or in the vicinity of the AONB do not maintain nor enhance the countryside between settlements they merely propose to develop these agriculturally valuable countryside fields!

Cross Boundary Strategic Objectives
3.18 Spatial Priority 9- states that the SDNP will work together with partners to ensure that the rural parts of the sub-region benefit from long term sustainable growth. Residents within the park area are complaining of the closing of local schools and shops due to no affordable housing, however Chichester District Council have agreed to the SDNP refusal of 41 affordable homes per annum over a 5 year period. Areas of the SDNP are becoming on a par to Venice.