Chichester Local Plan 2021 - 2039: Proposed Submission

1. List the local authorities and organisations that are being actively engaged.
2. Make an effort to come and speak to the Conservancy about the Local Plan, the value of the AONB, the Wildlife Corridors, etc.
3. Seek a Statement of Common Ground with the Conservancy.

The Council has not engaged constructively with Chichester Harbour Conservancy. In the run-up to this consultation, there has been no dialogue to address the key strategic matters of housing provision, biodiversity, the landscape and setting of the AONB, etc. The Conservancy has not yet been asked to agree a Statement of Common Ground. This is all disappointing since the Conservancy is the Statutory Joint Advisory Committee for the AONB, yet we are not part of the plan-making process.

"There are 33 parish councils located within the Local Plan area, including six parishes which are also partly located within the South Downs National Park, 7 parishes which are partly located within the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and 1 parish located entirely within the AONB."

~ Every time the South Downs National Park is cited, you need to think, 'Should we also cite Chichester Harbour AONB, since they are both protected landscapes?' I understand parishes that cross the boundary in the Park will be subject to two Local Plans, but that is not the point. If the Plan is written such as way so as to not give equal status to the South Downs and Chichester Harbour, then the policies and their interpretation will be affected - Chichester Harbour will be seen as second class to the National Park.

"There are 33 parish councils located within the Local Plan area, including six parishes which are also partly located within the South Downs National Park." Since this is a section on characteristics, why is the AONB not acknowledged?

"All the coastal and harbour areas are important for biodiversity, recreation, tourism, and marine businesses, with Chichester Harbour also recognised as a nationally important landscape. The cultural heritage and gentle way of life on the coast is an intrinsic value that needs to be protected."

"The coastal and harbour areas are important for biodiversity, recreation and tourism." This is a simplification. Are marine businesses not important to Chichester Harbour? Is the cultural heritage and gentle way of life not important? Is the landscape of the AONB not nationally important?

Delete Policy A11.

"New development must achieve sustainable development principles and must not adversely affect the character, quality, amenity or safety of the built environment, wherever it occurs." The Council achieve sustainable development and deliver Policy A11. The proposed A11 will adversely affect the character, quality, and amenity of Bosham and Chichester Harbour AONB. The text in Section 3.3 is inconsistent with Policy A11.

Delete Policy A11.

"New development must achieve sustainable development principles and must not adversely affect the character, quality, amenity or safety of the built environment, wherever it occurs." The Council cannot achieve sustainable development and deliver Policy A11. The proposed A11 will adversely affect the character, quality, and amenity of Bosham and Chichester Harbour AONB. The text in Section 3.3 is inconsistent with Policy A11.

Policy A11 to allocate 295 dwellings to Bosham - as much as I disagree with the Policy, let's at least make sure we're talking about the same thing here.

"Land at Highgrove Farm, east of Broadbridge, Bosham is allocated in the Site Allocation DPD 2014 - 2029 for 50 dwellings." This planning application has lapsed. Shouldn't the allocation of 50 dwellings be deleted, to be replaced by a proposed allocation for 295 dwellings?

Delete A11, revised A12 and A13.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy Objects to Policy A11, A12 and A13, for reasons that will be explained in response to each individual policy. It is difficult to accept this is sustainable development.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy recognises climate change as one of the biggest threats to the AONB. Where the Conservancy may have objected to previous schemes in terms of the landscape impact, it is recognised that such a position is no longer sustainable. The Conservancy would broadly favour the installation of renewable energy measures along the east-west corridor (within a 25 year time frame), rather than turn existing farmland into housing.

Correct references to the Chichester Harbour AONB Management Plan to clarify that it is prepared on behalf of Local Authorities.

"Chichester Harbour Conservancy's Chichester Harbour AONB Management Plan (the Management Plan)." This factually incorrect. It is not the Conservancy's AONB Management Plan. We prepare it on behalf of the Local Authorities, and is therefore Chichester District Council's Management Plan for Chichester Harbour. The other LAs are WSCC, HCC and HBC.

This is a well written section. I am slightly concerned that it conflicts with A11.