Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Partnership Management Plan?

The Partnership Management Plan (PMP) is a long–term strategy that provides a way for everyone who cares for, or benefits from, the South Downs National Park to work together to conserve and enhance its special qualities for the benefit of the landscape, residents, visitors and future generations.

The plan was first published in 2014 in close partnership with a wide range of organisations including communities, farmers, businesses, walkers and cyclists, conservation organisations, government agencies. The plan sets out a shared vision for how the SDNPA and our partner organisations would like the National Park to be in the future and identified the key priorities for how they would work together over five years to achieve this.

Why does the plan have to be reviewed?

Government legislation requires all National Park Authorities to review their Management Plans at least every five years (see section 66 sub-section 4 of the Environment Act 1995).

This presents an opportunity for us to look at the fresh challenges which have emerged since 2014, such as Brexit, along with new ideas on how to manage protected landscapes, which need to influence how the SDNPA and our partners focus our work over the next five years.

What will the review look like?

The principles of the PMP remain sound but it is time to set out a new joint action plan, setting out clear priorities for the practical action that the SDNPA & partners will be responsible for delivering by 2024 to reach the PMP’s shared vision. We will produce regular reports on our progress along the way.

Who is responsible for doing the things in the plan?

The National Park Authority is responsible for producing the plan but everyone who cares for, or benefits from, the National Park will have a responsibility to help deliver it.

Organisations that have contributed so far include:

Strategic partners

Country Landowners Association
Defence Estate
East Sussex County Council & Highways
East Sussex and Hants Highways Authorities
Environment Agency
Farmers and Landowners
Forest Research
Forestry Commission/Forest Enterprise
Hampshire County Council & Highways
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust,
Historic England
Highways England
Local Flood Authorities
Local Access Forum
Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership
Coast to Capital LEP Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership
National Farmers Union
National Park outdoor learning providers
National Trust
Natural England
Portsmouth Water
Public Health England
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
South Downs Society
South East Water
Southern Water
Sussex Downs and Low Weald Local Action Group
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Arts Council England
Three Harbours and Coastal Plain Local Action Group
Town and Parish Councils
West Sussex County Council & Highways
Woodland Trust

Delivery Partners

Action in Rural Sussex
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
Arun and River Rother Trust
Bat Conservation Trust
Biodiversity Records Centres
British Trust for Ornithology
BT Openreach
Butterfly Conservation
Catchment Partnerships
Coastal West Sussex Partnership (Experience West Sussex)
Community Action Hampshire
Destination Management Orgagisations & large scale tourism providers
Discover England Fund (Peak District)
Ditchling Museum
East Sussex Health and Well-Being Board
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Hampshire Fare Federation of Small Businesses
Hampshire Sustainable Business Partnership
Hampshire Health and Well-Being Board
Housing Associations
Jane Austen House
John Muir Trust
Learning through landscapes
Local Archaeology and Historical groups
Marine Management Organisation
Newhaven Community Development Association
Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust
Ouse Valley Cycle Network
Plumpton College
Rural Community Councils
Rural Housing Enablers
Rural West Sussex Partnership
Schools
South West Trains
Southern Rail
Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
Sustrans East Sussex – not just east Sussex but park wide
Transport Operators
Universities
University of the Third Age
Weald and Downland Open Air Museum,
West Dean Estate
West Sussex Health and Well-Being Board
Wild Trout Trust
Youth Hostelling Association

How does the plan affect me?

The plan will influence things that happen in the National Park such as sustainable travel, access and rights of way, and managing land for public goods and wildlife, as well as how it can be used to support education, health and wellbeing and local communities.

You can find stories of the influence from the PMP to date on our case studies page.

We also provide help and support for local communities who want to support the outcomes and policies in the Partnership Management Plan. Find out about our Sustainable Communities Fund.

When will the review be finished?

The PMP review started in 2017 with meetings between SDNPA officers and partners and stakeholders. We aim to finish the review by the summer of 2019 with a revised PMP and action plan setting out what projects we and our partners will deliver over the next five years available in autumn 2019.