Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan

Fittleworth Parish Council are preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan for Fittleworth.

Further details of the neighbourhood plan preparation are available at the Fittleworth Parish Council website.

The following stages and documents have been completed:

Statutory stage	Further information & documents
Plan ‘made’ (adopted)	The Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan (FNP) incorporating the Examiner’s modifications and all modifications as per the SDNPA Decision Statement complies with the legal requirements and basic conditions set out in the Localism Act 2011 and has now been formally made part of the Development Plan for the Parish of Fittleworth. The SDNPA have published the Regulation 20 ‘Adoption Statement’ which sets out more information regarding the Making of Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan Fittleworth Made Plan The Fittleworth NDP is a part of the Development Plan of the SDNPA Local Planning Authority area as defined by the Neighbourhood Area Designation by the SDNPA in 2015. The made Fittleworth NDP can be viewed at the following location: South Downs Centre, North Street, Midhurst, GU29 9DH
Referendum	A referendum was held on the Fittleworth NDP on Thursday 7 November 2019. For more information on the referendum visit Chichester District Council’s Referendum page. There was a 25% turnout, with the following result: Yes = 84% (164 votes) No = 15% (30 votes) Rejected 1% (1 vote) Fittleworth Neighbourhood Development Plan (Referendum Version)
Decision on a Plan Proposal	On 12 September 2019, the SDNPA’s Planning Committee agreed the Decision Statement for the Fittleworth NDP. This sets out the modifications that will be made to the Neighbourhood Plan in response to the Examiner’s recommendations. Fittleworth NDP Decision Statement The Fittleworth NDP has been modified accordingly and will proceed to referendum on 7 November 2019.
Independent Examination	The SDNPA appointed John Slater MRTPI as independent Examiner of the Fittleworth NDP. The Examiner has now issued his final report, which the SDNPA will consider. A ‘Decision Statement’ will be prepared shortly setting out the actions to be taken in response to the recommendations of the Examiner. Examiner’s Report Representations Made on the Submission Version of the Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan Documents produced during the Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan Examination During the Examination of the Fittleworth Neighbourhood Development Plan, the Independent Examiner (Mr John Slater) requested further information to enable him to carry out the Examination. The Examiners initial questions are set out below: Examiner Mr John Slater’s Initial Comments A response to these initial comments has been prepared by Fittleworth Parish Council’s and the South Downs National Park Authority, this is set out below: Response to Examiner’s Questions
Publicising the Plan Proposal	The SDNPA published the submitted Fittleworth Neighbourhood Development Plan (FNDP) for consultation in accordance with Part 5 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). The consultation ran from on 22 February 2019 to 12 April 2019. Representations made on the FNDP will be considered by an independent examiner who will assess whether the FNDP meets certain legal requirements, known as the ‘basic conditions’.This guidance note provides further information on the basic conditions and next steps for the FNDP. The following documents have been submitted for consultation. Submission Version of Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan Housing Survey Report Habitat Survey Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Sustainability Appraisal (Incorporating SEA) Habitat Regulations Assessment Public Response to draft Neighbourhood Plan Settlement Area Conservation Areas Site Assessment for Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan Basic Conditions Statement Consultation Statement The SDNPA made the following representation on the submission Fittleworth NDP: SDNPA Response to Submission Consultation on Fittleworth NDP
Submission of Plan Proposals	Fittleworth Parish Council submitted the Fittleworth NDP and accompanying documents to the SDNPA on 23 January 2019. The following submission checklist has been completed by the SDNPA: Fittleworth Neighbourhood Development Plan Submission Checklist
Pre-submission consultation on the plan	Fittleworth Parish Council are carried out their Pre-Submission consultation from 15 January 2018 for 6 weeks. Further details are available on the Parish Council website: Fittleworth Pre-Submission Fittleworth Pre-Submission Draft Plan SDNPA Response to the Fittleworth NDP
Designated Neighbourhood Area	The SDNPA designated the Fittleworth Neighbourhood Area on 5 March 2015 following an application from Fittleworth Parish Council. Designated Neighbourhood Area
Consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Area	A consultation on an application to designate Fittleworth Neighbourhood Area was held from 15 January to 26 February 2015.

For further information please contact neighbourhood@southdowns.gov.uk.