South Downs National Park’s Local Plan Review takes another step forward
July 17, 2025
The process of reviewing the South Downs National Park’s Local Plan continues at pace after more than 3,700 comments were received to a consultation.
The National Park Authority has been analysing all the feedback to the consultation that was held between January and March as it prepares for the next stage of the Local Plan Review. The award-winning South Downs Local Plan is being updated to ensure it addresses important issues such as nature recovery, climate change, affordable housing and helping local communities thrive.
Earlier this year more than 1,000 people visited 20 consultation events across the National Park and over 10,400 people viewed the online consultation. More than 1,900 individuals responded to the consultation, making 3,714 separate comments.
Following a meeting of the National Park’s Planning Committee last week, the next stages have been agreed:
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- In response to the first consultation, 28 new sites were put forward to the Authority to consider for development. In addition to this, further feedback was submitted regarding 38 existing sites that the Authority had previously excluded or rejected in the Land Availability Assessment (LAA). An updated LAA, outlining the Authority’s assessment of potential sites for development, will be published this autumn and inform the next consultation in 2026.
- Further engagement with National Park Parishes will take place during the autumn about any proposed changes to potential site allocations.
- All the feedback so far will be considered as the Authority prepares the next stage of the Local Plan Review, with the second public consultation taking place between May and July 2026.
- Submission of the revised Local Plan to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate is expected in the autumn of 2026 and full adoption as planning policy by the National Park Authority in 2027.
Tim Slaney, Director of Planning at the National Park Authority, said: “I’d like to thank every person and organisation who took the time to respond to the first consultation as we carefully shape this updated Local Plan.
“This Local Plan Review is the framework for the future of this incredible National Park. It shapes where and how development takes place, ensuring we conserve and enhance its wonderful landscape, wildlife and heritage, whilst enabling villages and towns to flourish. We’ve had a real variety of responses, with broad support for policies around nature, climate and community facilities, for example, while housing and viticulture attracted mixed views.
“We’re working diligently and methodically through the various formal stages of the process and look forward to engaging further with the public, parishes, landowners and partner organisations.”
The Authority will be preparing several studies and evidence documents over the summer to support the next version of the Local Plan going out to consultation.
All comments so far have been registered and any personal information redacted, and published to view on the consultation platform at https://sdnpalocalplanreview.commonplace.is/
Summaries of the feedback by policy and site allocation are also available to read at www.southdowns.gov.uk/local-plan-review
- The current Local Plan is available here: southdowns.gov.uk/planning-policy/south-downs-local-plan/local-plan/
- The South Downs National Park has one of the most unique built environments within a protected landscape in the UK. As Britain’s most populated National Park with over 113,000 residents, it spans 15 different local authority areas across three counties and has four bustling market towns. It boasts 167 conservation areas – more than any other National Park in the UK – as well as 18 distinctive landscape types, over 1,000 designated spaces for wildlife and well over 5,800 listed buildings. Dealing with around 5,000 planning cases a year, the National Park is one of the country’s top 30 busiest Planning Authorities.