7.1

The role of Goodwood Estate businesses in transcending many business sectors should be reflected through the Plan and suitable provision for its sustainability made through Plan policies.

Goodwood does not sit easily within the Plan’s definition (and therefore policy provision) of tourism and hospitality as set out in Chapter 7: Employment and Economy. It is a hybrid situation attracting elements of many sectors of the Employment and Economy Chapter, and we request this position is more visibly acknowledged and provided for through the Plan.

There are references within Chapter 10 (policies A9 and A16) but this is focussed on the Goodwood Airfield and Motor Circuit.

The majority of the Goodwood Estate is within the National Park rather than CDC and it is understandable policy should focus on the airfield and circuit. However, it is important the Plan acknowledges and makes provision for the inter-connection of the airfield and motor circuit with the rest of the Estate, and the significant benefits of a "combined Goodwood" to Chichester District and the region.

The Estate welcomes a continuing dialogue with the planning authority to ensure the local plan is an appropriate vehicle to support and enhance the Estate through future years.

Representations we make to earlier parts of the Plan illustrate the economic contribution made by the Estate to the District and this should be reflected in Chapter 7.

Remove the allocation of this site from the plan

The Proposed Strategic Site Alloacation for Land South of Chichester is contrary to the wording under Chapter 7 Policy E2 which sets out the criteria for permitting development.Allocation of this site will lead to a material increase in noise,will materially adversely effect visual amenity to neighbouring residential properties, will generate unacceptable levels of traffic movements,adversely affect soil water adour and air pollution to neighbouring residential properties .

The plan fails to address other more suitable sites within the plan area and other options explored.

The Government has tasked Growers to grow more home grown produce, increase productivity, reduce food miles and the UK’s reliance on imported food. There is also an increasing need for space to grow plants, shrubs and trees. These aims can be achieved; however, the Horticultural and Food Industries need Local Planning Policies to be in place that enables sustainable development. To this end, more flexibility is needed in the current CDC Local Plan - Horticultural Policy to meet the needs of the Horticultural sector.

Reference to ‘ancillary’ with regard to the HDAs in relevant policies and supporting text should be modified to 'functionally linked' and include explanatory text clarifying that 'functionally linked' uses can include a range of activities including: food-related distribution; food manufacturing linked to the HDAs food preparation; on-site renewable energy to serve on-site activities; and R&D.

The Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership (LEP) acknowledge the specific and important contribution of horticulture to the economy of CDC. In accordance with Savills representations in respect policy E4 and the supporting text, the council’s approach to restraint of the draft LP on development that is functionally linked to the horticultural industry within or close to the designated HDAs will suppress the productivity and prosperity of the industry and thereby its significant contribution the wider local economy.

The 2020 HEDNA predicates future growth of the horticultural sector on past planning consents and developments, which does not fully account for the demand for functionally linked activities as CDC have not been granting consents for these.

The 2022 HEDNA [para 80] identifies that Chichester’s industrial market is severely undersupplied. However the HEDNA does not adequately assess the scale of suppressed demand and make allowance for it in industrial allocations. Whilst the LP seeks to provide office, factory and warehouse space (110k to 117k sqm), the likely insufficient supply and competition in the market will mean that there is no certainty that this space would be available and/or sufficient to meet the immediate and future needs of the horticultural/food production industry, constraining overall growth in the sector.

Savills SREBR report (attached) identifies that the constraint on co-locating functionally-linked forms of development at Runcton HDA will have a negative impact on the strength, diversity of the CDC economy.

The restrictions of policies of E3 and E4 with regard to the range of uses permissible in the HDAs means that the opportunity to maximise carbon reductions by co-locating associated functions of the food chain is lost - refer to para 4.4.2 of Savills SREB report.