Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document - Regulation 19 Consultation

Westbourne Parish Council considered a response to the consultation at its meeting on 11 June 2026. It would like to comment that any development north of the railway in Southbourne would cause a significant increase in traffic using Whitechimney Row in Westbourne as a means of avoiding the railway crossing in Southbourne. The Council considers that the road is suitable for local residential traffic, but not suitable for through traffic and there is a concern that new development in Southbourne could generate over 800 vehicles per day travelling through Westbourne and putting additional pressure on the local village infrastructure. Westbourne is already heavily congested and is used as a throughfare for traffic in the wider area.

The Parish Council also submitted the following comment in December 2024 to the first round of the consultation, and the Council would like to find out how this has been considered.

'Westbourne Parish Council supports development to the east of Southbourne as it considers any development to the west would reduce the strategic gap between the settlements of Westbourne and Southbourne, and would affect the wildlife corridor which is important to protect for environmental and biodiversity purposes. It is important to leave plenty of green space between the two communities to protect the local identity of villages and avoid coalescence. The Council considers that a bridge for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians over the railway is essential to take pressure off the level crossing and connect any development to the A279. The Council is concerned that the viability of the road bridge is marginal and if land values reduce or other financial pressures emerge, the road bridge solution may not go ahead. This could result in a situation where the housing proceeds but no road bridge is provided and would have a serious outcome, not only for Southbourne with gridlock at the level crossing, but also for Westbourne with traffic through the village seeking an alternative to the chaos at the level crossing. Whitechimney Row in Westbourne does not have the ability to take any more traffic due to the narrow and historic nature of the road. The Parish Council strongly objects to any scheme that does not deliver a road bridge over the railway. The Council considers the Community Infrastructure Levy must pay for the road bridge on any option and the number of houses should be increased if necessary to ensure enough funding to provide the bridge. 800 new homes without a road bridge would be a disaster. 900 new homes with a road bridge would make little difference overall in terms of the spatial plan but so much better as a solution to the need to grow Southbourne.'

Westbourne Parish Council considered a response to the consultation at its meeting on 11 June 2026. It would like to comment that any development north of the railway in Southbourne would cause a significant increase in traffic using Whitechimney Row in Westbourne as a means of avoiding the railway crossing in Southbourne. The Council considers that the road is suitable for local residential traffic, but not suitable for through traffic and there is a concern that new development in Southbourne could generate over 800 vehicles per day travelling through Westbourne and putting additional pressure on the local village infrastructure. Westbourne is already heavily congested and is used as a throughfare for traffic in the wider area.

The Parish Council also submitted the following comment in December 2024 to the first round of the consultation, and the Council would like to find out how this has been considered.

'Westbourne Parish Council supports development to the east of Southbourne as it considers any development to the west would reduce the strategic gap between the settlements of Westbourne and Southbourne, and would affect the wildlife corridor which is important to protect for environmental and biodiversity purposes. It is important to leave plenty of green space between the two communities to protect the local identity of villages and avoid coalescence. The Council considers that a bridge for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians over the railway is essential to take pressure off the level crossing and connect any development to the A279. The Council is concerned that the viability of the road bridge is marginal and if land values reduce or other financial pressures emerge, the road bridge solution may not go ahead. This could result in a situation where the housing proceeds but no road bridge is provided and would have a serious outcome, not only for Southbourne with gridlock at the level crossing, but also for Westbourne with traffic through the village seeking an alternative to the chaos at the level crossing. Whitechimney Row in Westbourne does not have the ability to take any more traffic due to the narrow and historic nature of the road. The Parish Council strongly objects to any scheme that does not deliver a road bridge over the railway. The Council considers the Community Infrastructure Levy must pay for the road bridge on any option and the number of houses should be increased if necessary to ensure enough funding to provide the bridge. 800 new homes without a road bridge would be a disaster. 900 new homes with a road bridge would make little difference overall in terms of the spatial plan but so much better as a solution to the need to grow Southbourne.'