Premier acknowledges that the Chichester Harbour AONB is afforded the highest level of protection under paragraph 177 of the NPPF, where major development will not usually be permitted unless ‘exceptional circumstances’ development tests can be met, and where the development is in the public interest.
Premier has experience of delivering major developments within the AONB, at Chichester Marina and elsewhere in the country. It is acknowledged that development can be harmful to the AONB, however, Premier has a strong track record of delivering quality development schemes in sensitive locations.
The policy approach should be consistent and no more onerous than national planning policy in relation to AONBs.
The reference in the wording of Policy NE2 to the policy aims of the ‘Chichester Harbour AONB Management Plan’ should be amended, given that:
1. This is not a statutory policy document; and
2. This Plan is not consistent with the NPPF.
Accordingly, Premier suggest the wording of Policy NE2 (Part 5) is amended to ensure it is justified and consistent with national policy in accordance with paragraph 35 (b and c) of the NPPF as follows:
“5) Development proposals within the setting of Chichester Harbour AONB should recognise its status as a landscape of the highest quality and should be designed to reflect this with the scale and extent of development limited consistent with the existing site and locational context, sensitively located and designed to avoid or minimise adverse impacts on the AONB in accordance with national policy. Development proposals must comply with the Chichester Harbour AONB Management Plan and the Chichester Harbour AONB Joint SPD which are material planning considerations”.