1.2

Over the coming years, more provision of space for nurseries, high-tech glasshouses, packhouses and reservoirs will be required; however, there will also be an increased need for ancillary development, such as: Vertical Farming Projects, Research & Development Facilities, Alternative Energy Centres, Logistics and Distribution Centres, Engineering and Technical Support Facilities.

The West Sussex Coastal Plain, with its exceptionally high winter light levels and all year round beneficial climate, is the preferred location for horticultural production in the UK.

The Horticultural Industry, concentrated around Chichester and Bognor Regis, generates annual turnover that exceeds £1billion pounds and employs more than 10,000 full time equivalent staff.

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.

As above. new DPD should come before this document is approved. The site allocations are not sound and possibly not compliant - see comments elsewhere.

This plan appears to contradict the DPD. It should be noted that where a new DPD is adopted it will take precedence over this document. My comment is generated in response to Bosham site Allocation which is not sound.

There has not been sufficient, recent public consultation. The last stage was in January
2019 on the Preferred Option as confirmed by the latest Statement of Community
Involvement published in November 2018. Neither has there been published a Statement
of Common Ground. It is recommended that this be published at same time as Regulation
19 i.e. Proposed Submission of Draft Local Plan [Feb 2023]. Much has changed in four years,
including government commitments to tackle Climate Change and Sustainable Transport.
Water, sewerage, sea level rise, pollution have all worsened all of which must be taken into account