Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment

We broadly support the assessment within the SA regarding the strategic argument for directing a good proportion of growth to Southbourne through the local plan, i.e., a good proportion of ~2,450 home target figure that is arrived at by deducting supply from completions (658 homes), commitments (5,476 homes), windfall (595 homes) and new supply from Chichester Parish (450 homes) from the 9,630 target figure for the southern plan area.

The consortium maintains that the proposals for Southbourne should allow for c1,250 dwellings to be constructed, in line with the position accepted by the Neighbourhood Planning group and, in principle, the plan Examiner. The SA reiterates this point, stating that:

“with regards to the number of homes that should be supported, there is logic to further exploring the scale of growth that was previously considered through the now withdrawn Southbourne NP, and it is not clear that there is an argument for considering lower growth. Additionally, there is a clear argument for exploring the possibility of higher growth, to ensure a suitably comprehensive scheme, with a high level of ‘planning gain”.

The SA explores a number of growth scenarios for Southbourne, either with a base of 1,050 homes or 1,500 homes. The SA scored scenario 5 (Scenario 5 – Scenario 1 plus higher growth at Southbourne, 1500 homes) highest under most topic headings including accessibility, environmental quality, climate change mitigation, community, health, historic environment and landscape.

In terms of the assessment of a scheme to the west of Southbourne, the SA rightly acknowledges the lack of the same level of masterplanning effort. A scheme of a similar size to that proposed in the emerging plan would highly likely lead to a consolidation of the village of Southbourne and Emsworth due to the limited dimensions of the land and constraints from the A27 to the north. The SA advises that a split of growth to the east and to the west would potentially result in sub-optimal outcomes in terms of securing community infrastructure benefits / planning gain to the benefit of the village as a whole, a key element of the scheme to the east. The masterplan prepared for land to the east of Southbourne seeks to deliver the visionary green ring around Southbourne, protecting it from cohesion with the two settlements of Nutbourne and Hambrook further to the east.

In terms of community building, higher growth at Southbourne feasibly leads to related benefits over-and-above those already discussed within the SA. We feel that the SA doesn’t go far enough to explore the potential for genuine community building and the more abstract side of the proposed strategic developments. Development east of Southbourne would contribute a significant benefit to the community and village through the delivery of a community hub, primary school and shared, co-working office space which could support both new and existing residents, therefore having benefit for the village as a whole. The central location of this facility, which could be delivered with relationship to the Green Ring, would ensure the accessibility for all within the community.