Chichester Local Plan 2021 - 2039: Proposed Submission

The plan must make appropriate and robust provision for housing need within the material constraints imposed on the District, with those constraints being supported by clear policy. This should include a need to protect areas of important, functional countryside, where there is a risk of coalescence or gradual coalescence over time, or where development would erode the provision of open green or blue space to the detriment of the community.

The definition of land as Countryside or land located beyond the settlement edge or boundary, while offering a level of protection, is an insufficient policy constraint to speculative housing justified only by local housing demand. The plan must include policies that add an additional layer of protection to important areas, confirming that open countryside and land outside settlement boundaries (particularly that identified as playing an additional function such as gap or coalescence avoidance) does not carry with it a presumption in favour of any development; the new local plan being applied as a whole.

The fact settlement boundaries have been reviewed through this local plan and further encouraged through the Site Alocation DPD and Neighbourhood Plans is supported.

The policy is supported, particularly reference to Goodwood Airfield and Goodwood Motor Circuit. We request the Plan ensures all demonstrations of policy compliance are robust. Developers when presenting evidence, are often selective or apply a generic approach to noise assessment not truly representative of existing situations.

The plan should set out clearly the minimum evidence required to demonstrate the lack of noise disturbance and a resultant high-quality of living environment for individual sites.

Policy should acknowledge the impact of new development on existing uses, with reference to the ‘agent of change’ principle (NPPF paragraph 186) being a policy requirement.

Local Plan Paragraphs 10.71 – 10.75 The Estate supports the local plan in recognising the importance to the district of the Goodwood Motor Circuit and Airfield. The Estate similarly supports Policies A16 and A17 and changes to Local Plan Maps, A9a, and both A16a. While the airfield and motor circuit occupy the same area of land (Map A16a) it will be helpful for the plan to acknowledge the two distinct business areas, which have different requirements in terms of local plan policy.

Accompanying Footnote 51 should be changed to more appropriately reflect the contribution of the Goodwood Estate to the local, regional and National economy. The Estate has shared with the planning authority the LSE report commissioned to research the contribution of Goodwood (LSE “The Goodwood Estate: Estimating Socioeconomic Contribution January 2020”).

This document providing evidence from all Good businesses over a period of time, should be referenced in paragraph 10.71, rather than the one-off event mentioned. It will be appreciated that if a single event generates a significant local and National turnover of some £60M in 2014, the combined turnover from all Goodwood businesses will be of far greater significance. It is this most important and significant contribution to local, regional and National economics, that must be protected, enhanced and sustained through policies of the local plan. The report is being updated and will be shared with the planning authority when available (expected before the Local Plan Examination)

The paragraph should emphasise, as raised in other representations, the true value of the Goodwood Estate to the local and National Economy.

Goodwood Estate generates an estimated economic contribution of £435m into the national economy and £125m in tax contributions, of which £314m and £100m respectively benefit the local economy (2019 Study by London School of Economics). Consequently, one of the area's most significant providers of employment, homes and economic benefit, is under threat from inappropriate adjacent development. The Plan should ensure the benefits provided by Goodwood and its operations are sustained by appropriate policy protection and opportunity.

The particular importance of the economic and employment contribution of Goodwood Estate and Rolls-Royce should be acknowledged.

The Goodwood Estate generates an estimated economic contribution of £435m into the national economy and £125m in tax contributions, of which £314m and £100m respectively benefit the local economy (2019 Study by London School of Economics).

It is understood Rolls-Royce is to publish details of its economic contribution imminently, which should be addressed through the Plan

Policies supporting local character and distinctiveness is supported but the criteria listed should go further to reference design guides that indicate the key elements of an area that define its character and which are desirable to maintain and enhance