Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document - Regulation 19 Consultation

Dear Sir or Madam

Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document Regulation 19 Consultation

Thank you for your email of 5 June 2026 inviting comments on the above consultation document.

As the Government's adviser on the historic environment Historic England is keen to ensure that the protection of the historic environment is fully taken into account at all stages of the planning process. This includes formulation of local development policy and plans, supplementary planning documents, area and site proposals, and the on-going review of policies and plans.

There are many issues and matters in the consultation document that are beyond the remit and concern of Historic England, and our comments are, as required, limited to matters relating to the historic environment and heritage assets. In our comments, Historic England focuses on the objective of the National Planning Policy Framework to set out a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment (Paragraph 203, NPPF); and in particular to contain policies to sustain and enhance the significance of the heritage assets (Paragraph 203 a, NPPF).

Our comments on the Regulation 18 stage draft Local Plan largely have been addressed in the current Publication version or by reference to current adopted policy in the Chichester Local Plan and Southbourne Modified Neighbourhood Plan. Consequently, the draft DPD is in our view likely to be found sound in relation to the historic environment aspects of the NPPF.

We welcome the inclusion of policies for the historic environment in the local plan that meet the obligation for preparing the positive strategy required by the NPPF. The key test of the soundness of the plan and the achievement of sustainable development as defined in the NPPF in respect of the elements that relate to the historic environment (paragraph 196), in our view, have been met. We should like to stress that this opinion is based on the information provided by the Council in its consultation. To avoid any doubt, this does not affect our obligation to provide further advice and, potentially, object to specific proposals which may subsequently arise where we consider that these would have an adverse effect upon the historic environment. We hope that these comments are useful.