3.9

The plan should be clear that it will ensure prioritized urban development is carried out and that small rural villages will not be unsustainably developed to support lack of progress elsewhere.

The plan states Chichester city is the most sustainable area for development and that there is potential for a further 270 dwellings on 'mainly brownfield sites within the city'. These locations should take priority to be developed.

The plan should acknowledge the potential of the Southern Gateway to deliver AT LEAST 270 dwellings, potentially many more, and state that work will continue to create a visionary masterplan for the area through liaison with WSCC, the Post Office, British Rail, the Department of Justice and other large landowners in the town centre

There is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redevelop the city centre Southern Gateway area of Chichester to provide many more affordable houses than that included in the Local Plan including the provision of a major hotel, retail, restaurants, a health centre, music venues, modernised Law Courts, a transport hub based at the train station and an innovation centre in the historic bus depot.

This plan focuses on only two sites in Kingsham Road. The masterplan should include Bus Station and Depot, CDC adjacent car park, Railtrack land, Royal Mail, Basin Edge, The Law Courts in order that when these become available a strategic approach is in place. Chichester lacks uses that can be incorporated within a larger Southern Gateway. An innovation centre, music venue, 750 homes, a green pathway for pedestrians and cyclists through the city, 5* Hotel with restaurants spilling on basin edge and an office development around a courtyard on the Bus station site for WSCC, CDC, Sussex Police, Fire authority and Chichester Medical centre. All located on one site

In 2022 with Catja de Haas I undertook a comprehensive review of the stalled Southern Gateway Masterplan. Our plan increased by 70% the total end space added, additional uses, created car free neighbourhoods; pedestrian and cycle routes through the city and more than doubled the completed development value.
We presented our plan to over 100 elected representatives of CDC and Chichester Society, Chichester University, Chichester College. Our proposals met with unanimous support.
We support CDC on Southern Gateway but focus must be given on delivery, higher value, more community uses and a greener solution.

The Draft plan is premature and so should be held until the A27 improvements are agreed and the climate change flood risk assessment has been scrutinised.

The The strategic housing locations all place a huge reliance on Chichester and the A27 ring road. The Council should wait until they know of funding can be raised for various improvements to the A27 ring road and whether the new climate Change flood risk map is sound. Then an informed assessment can be made regarding the more sustainable locations for development. In particular The Wittering's have the potential to be made more sustainable and less reliant on Chichester.

Chichester City has more brownfield sites than other areas and yet only 270 houses are planned for the City Centre area and upwards of 2000 in rural locations. The Southern Gateway project plans for leisure and retail when those facilities in the city are dying. There is a very clear need to rethink the distribution of housing and use more brownfield sites in the city to reduce the dependence on cars.