Chichester Local Plan 2021 - 2039: Proposed Submission

Object

Representation ID: 5884

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The ‘good quality of life’ is being consistently undermined by centrally imposed housing numbers from government that are unsustainable.
Developments are creating flooding that imposes restrictions on insurance and mortgage valuations. They are creating upsurges of sewage in new built homes as Southern Water is unable to cope.
There is a wide spread horror at the amount of poisoning going on in our seas which deters swimmers, kayakers, and sailors.
There is a constant fear that access to doctors will be delayed due to oversubscribed surgeries.
Likewise access to schools as they too are oversubscribed. This has led to a rise in the instances of home schooling. And frustration with public transport and the irregularity of the rail service.

The starting point for assessing the housing requirement of the plan area is the Government’s standard method. However, environmental and infrastructure constraints, and whether they can be mitigated, have been considered in determining whether a figure less than the standard method can be justified.

Object

Representation ID: 5885

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

There is no mention of provision of affordable housing.
There is no recognition of over subscribed schools, surgeries whose lists are full, lack of housing within the centre, or lack of communal work space or child care nurseries.
There is no mention of how to retain successful candidates from our excellent university and college. There should be systems in place that encourage them to stay and use their skills to promote the city and its environs.

Noted. The matters identified by the respondent are covered in the section of the Plan outlining the ‘Issues and opportunities facing the plan area’.

Object

Representation ID: 5886

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The roads into the city of Chichester are narrow and reflect the historical build of its centre. These are under huge stress from the outlying developments most especially from the large Whitehouse Farm development along the A2178. And for all the communities trying to cross the A27 from the south.

Our rich heritage is being constantly undermined by empty shops, lack of trees, broken paving, and little night life across its centre.

The city centre should be brought to life with a greater encouragement of housing above shops and within large buildings that could be converted into dwellings.
There should be a greater push to encourage the young to live in the city by providing space for business hubs and nursery/childcare facilities, and entertainment.

Noted. The Local Plan section on Chichester City Development Principles (Policy A1) acknowledges the matters referred to by the respondent and the opportunities to address them.

Object

Representation ID: 5887

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The A27 is nothing but a huge barrier preventing the communities from accessing their city and its amenities and creating gridlock at the roundabouts.
The A259 is under growing stress from the rise in households along its length making accessing the A27 at Fishbourne roundabout a daily hazard.
The air pollution levels rise, the buildings suffer from heavy vehicles, and the designated national path of Emperor’s Way taking walkers to and from the Marshes to the village is a daily stressful safety hazard. The 30mph is regularly ignored and because the village is approached through a bend the pedestrians are out of sight until too late. .
The A259 is also the relief road for when the major strategic road A27 is blocked.

The East- West corridor is served by 2 major A roads, a railway line and regular bus services. This means it is considered one of the more accessible locations in the Plan Area.

Object

Representation ID: 5888

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

In reference to the potential for future sea level rise and erosion will be fully considered’ –

New developments on the Manhood Peninsula are creating flooding where none existed prior to their build. This is in complete defiance of the government’s NPPF decree that new development should not increase flood risk elsewhere.

Comment noted. The plan does not propose any development on the Manhood Peninsula other than 50 at North Mundham which already have permission.

Object

Representation ID: 5889

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

In the Plan’s Policy NE12 planning permission will be granted for development on the coast where it can be demonstrated there are measures in place to mitigate any detrimental effects. Bracklesham, Medmerry, Pagham, Bosham and Fishbourne have all suffered coastal erosion. The policy for these is ‘Hold The Line’ and since there is no or little funding for mitigation the erosion will continue thus jeopardising all developments along the shoreline and behind.

In Para 4.75 you state that the Council will require new buildings to be set back from the shore line by 25 metres. This will not be sufficient to safeguard life nor structure from the growing strength of our storms and sea level rise.

Revised wording in relation to setbacks has been agreed with Natural England, to take account of National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping.

Object

Representation ID: 5890

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The biodiversity of the entire fragile environment of the Chichester Coastal Plain will be wiped out as coastal erosion and flooding will eventually push the wildlife further inland. It will then face the barrier of all the housing developments and so fail.

The policy sets out how coastal areas will be protected and enhanced. Policy NE5 requires the conservation, protection and restoration of biodiversity and a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain.

Object

Representation ID: 5891

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The average price of a home in Chichester according to Rightmove is £437,828. This is unachievable for the young who having been brought up in the area and wish to earn and remain. It will result in an exodus of young aspiring professionals.

There is no indication that any of these houses being built have efficient energy systems incorporated such as solar panels or charging points for electric cars.

According to Local Government Inform there are approximately 2,405 people on the waiting list for affordable homes in the Chichester area. It is therefore possible to conjecture that the developments awarded planning permission are not fulfilling their ‘affordability’ quota. (Only sites of 10 homes or fewer are exempt from providing affordable homes.)

1 and 3. The objective is to deliver affordable housing to meet local needs so unclear which part of that is objected to.

2 The Government is implementing the Future Homes and Buildings Standard, to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon emissions of new buildings through changes to Building Regulations. An interim uplift came into effect in 2022 and consultation on further changes to make all new buildings zero carbon ready began on 13 December 2023, with the changes anticipated to take effect from 2025.

A Written Ministerial Statement on 13 December 2023, which replaces an earlier WMS from 2015, is clear that local plans should not impose energy efficiency requirements above existing or planned Building Regulations.

In addition, viability testing showed that a net zero requirement ahead of Building Regulations changes anticipated through the Government’s Future Homes and Buildings Standard would not be viable without cutting another requirement such as affordable housing, particularly when the costs related to the A27 were taken into account.

Policy P1 Design Principles requires that residential and commercial development proposals are accompanied by a Sustainability Statement setting out how the design applies sustainability principles.

The Climate Change Background Paper sets out in more detail how climate mitigation and adaptation is covered throughout the Plan.

4.Due to the limited availability of deliverable and/or developable brownfield sites within the plan area, relative to the level of housing need, greenfield sites are always going to be have to be the main focus for development within the Local Plan in order to meet the Plan Area’s housing needs. Nevertheless, the council has still sought to allocate brownfield sites where it can, such as Southern Gateway.

Object

Representation ID: 5892

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Concerns about the impact of development on coastal plain, agricultural land and local tourism.

Comment noted

Object

Representation ID: 5893

Received: 17/03/2023

Respondent: Save our South Coast Alliance

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill that is under consultation stresses the importance of engaging with local communities as to the design and location of new builds. The other point they stress is that the desire to build beautiful should be a high priority. There is no indication in any of the planning applications or in the Local Plan that these points are taken into account.

The preparation of local design code/s will involve local people