2.49

Propose a distinctive policy for development in the North of the Plan, which would more explicitly link the nature and capacity of the spatial areas with the proposed housing allocations. This was achieved in Policy 25 of the current adopted Local Plan.

Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council notes that there is no like-for-like replacement of Chichester’s current Local Plan 2014 – 2029 Policy 25, ‘Development in the North of the Plan’ in the emerging plan; but there is a substantial amount of explanation about the area strategy in the supporting text for Chapter 2 and in the supporting text for Policy S1, which is the spatial development strategy.

The Council would have liked to see a policy more explicitly linking the nature and capacity of the spatial areas with the proposed housing allocations. This was achieved in Policy 25 of the current adopted Local Plan.

The Spatial Strategy and recognition of different landscapes is supported by Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council; however, the distinctive differences of the landscapes within the District are not adequately followed through and protected within policy. As drafted, NE10 does not help to conserve the distinctive qualities of the landscapes as it is not specific. The separate/distinctive Policy 25, ‘Development in the North of the Plan’ within Chichester’s current Local Plan 2014 – 2029 helps to underline and support Chichester’s aspiration to conserve and enhance the distinctive landscape in the North of the Plan Area, which is currently significantly weakened by the omission of a distinctive policy in the current draft version of the Plan.

Support – with qualification
The rural character of Wisborough Green, a jewel of a village within the whole of Chichester District, cannot be maintained if:
- new housing numbers are allocated that increase the village size by double-digit percentages.
- sites identified within the HELAA ignore the unique nature of the village.
- there is an expectation that local communities become more self-reliant to meet their local needs.
This statement is in direct conflict with 2.27.
The maintenance of the rural character of the parishes within the NE is essential.

WGPC supports this approach but questions how it could be applied to Wisborough Green. It is inconceivable for WG to become more self-reliant in meeting local needs. The primary need is for food, and a small village shop fulfils basic requirements for some residents. The majority of residents are reliant upon car use to access shops in excess of 3 miles away. The nearest superstore, in Horsham, is 8.7 miles away.
There are no bus routes.

Many of our key needs are not being met at the moment as the lanes and roads are not being maintained for the local community as it stands, ie there are significant potholes in many of our roads and lanes, some lanes that are required to access Plaistow are regularly flooded, the traffic speeds through our roads above the speed limits causing concern for pedestrians, dog-walkers, horse-riders, carriage-drivers and local traffic. Our rural lanes and roads are narrow, winding, without edges or guttering, not designed for heavy traffic and are struggling to cope with the local population as it stands.

Provide heading or explanation for this section of the plan to ensure clarity.

See attachment.

Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council notes that there is no like-for-like replacement of Chichester’s current Local Plan 2014 – 2029 Policy 25, ‘Development in the North of the Plan’ in the emerging plan; but there is a substantial amount of explanation about the area strategy in the supporting text for Chapter 2 and in the supporting text for Policy S1, which is the spatial development strategy.

The Council would have liked to see a policy more explicitly linking the nature and capacity of the spatial areas with the proposed housing allocations. This was achieved in Policy 25 of the current adopted Local Plan.

The Spatial Strategy and recognition of different landscapes is supported by Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council; however, the distinctive differences of the landscapes within the District are not adequately followed through and protected within policy. As drafted, NE10 does not help to conserve the distinctive qualities of the landscapes as it is not specific. The separate/distinctive Policy 25, ‘Development in the North of the Plan’ within Chichester’s current Local Plan 2014 – 2029 helps to underline and support Chichester’s aspiration to conserve and enhance the distinctive landscape in the North of the Plan Area, which is currently significantly weakened by the omission of a distinctive policy in the current draft version of the Plan.

Support – with qualification
The rural character of Wisborough Green, a jewel of a village within the whole of Chichester District, cannot be maintained if:
- new housing numbers are allocated that increase the village size by double-digit percentages.
- sites identified within the HELAA ignore the unique nature of the village.
- there is an expectation that local communities become more self-reliant to meet their local needs.
This statement is in direct conflict with 2.27.
The maintenance of the rural character of the parishes within the NE is essential.

WGPC supports this approach but questions how it could be applied to Wisborough Green. It is inconceivable for WG to become more self-reliant in meeting local needs. The primary need is for food, and a small village shop fulfils basic requirements for some residents. The majority of residents are reliant upon car use to access shops in excess of 3 miles away. The nearest superstore, in Horsham, is 8.7 miles away.
There are no bus routes.