Premier is a key stakeholder and user of the Chichester Ship Canal, holding a long leasehold interest from West Sussex District Council for the Canal from Chichester Harbour to the A286.
The Canal was largely abandoned by 1928 having fallen into disuse. Yacht moorings on the Canal along the stretch now adjacent to Chichester Marina were retained and their use as such pre-dates the building of the marina. There are currently 31 houseboats moored along this stretch of Canal. Much of the Canal is heavily silted and the two main road bridges have been replaced by unnavigable culverts preventing navigation of the canal.
It is highly unlikely that the canal can ever become navigable. Doing so would require major infrastructure works, including re-routing of or bridges over the A286 and B2201. The ecological designations affecting the various parts of the Canal (including the SAC, AONB and protected species) will also affect the possibility of such major infrastructure works being undertaken.
Given this, the policy approach should recognise and support the potential of the Canal’s historic use for houseboat living rather than holding out for a navigable canal which will almost certainly never be delivered and economic benefits that are not clearly established. Premier supports a policy approach that encourages “increased recreation, leisure pursuits and economic activity” but it believes that policy should explicitly include houseboats. These support the on-going management of the Canal and public access to it, support marine employment (houseboats use the same electrical and marine systems as recreational boats and therefore support marine employment), and add to the mix of site uses positively. As such, the policy wording should be amended as follows to ensure the policy is more effective in accordance with paragraph 35(c) of the NPPF:
“Development proposals that make provision for through navigation or enhancement supports the further use and enhancement of the Chichester Ship Canal and/or the Wey and Arun Canal will be supported where they meet environmental, ecological, historical and transport considerations. This includes improvements to the existing houseboat population and further houseboat development on the canal.
Development proposals will be permitted where they preserve and enhance the remaining line and configuration of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal and the features within it, with no overall adverse effect. Where no such line and configuration remains, proposals to reinterpret the alignment within new development proposals will be supported where they protect and enhance the culture, history and natural environment and consideration is given to local impacts”.