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Frequently asked questions relating to the Land Availability Assessment.
It is an assessment of a range of land for its potential for development. It is important to note that the LAA does not allocate sites – it just assesses potential. The aim of the LAA is to identify a list of sites, from which allocations may be chosen.
Step 1 – Identify sites. This includes sites already known to SDNPA, or any new sites submitted.
Step 2 – First assessment. Sites which do not meet basic criteria are ‘excluded’ from proceeding any further in the assessment. This could be because the site is wholly or substantially in an area designated for nature, is too small, or is distant The criteria is published on the website.
Step 3 – Second assessment. A more detailed assessment considering landscape, suitability (such as heritage and flood risk), availability of the site (for example are all site owners in agreement) and achievability (are there any fundamental issues such as no access to the site). Each site is then either ‘rejected’ or we can say the site ‘has potential’ for development.
The sites that have ‘potential’ provide a ‘long list’ from which allocations may be ‘short listed’. Further evidence is gathered to inform which sites proceed to allocation.
The LAA does not allocate sites to be developed. It is but one of many pieces of evidence that will inform the Local Plan. The allocation of sites for future development will be determined through either the South Downs Local Plan Review or neighbourhood development plans.
The identification of potential housing sites within the LAA does not imply that planning permission would be granted for development. The LAA is a high-level assessment of potential land availability. Determination of planning applications will require a much greater of detail and understanding of the site constraints. All planning applications will continue to be considered against the appropriate policies and having regard to any other material considerations.
We undertook a Call for Sites in 2022, inviting landowners and other interested parties to submit sites to us for consideration. We also considered sites already known to us and assessed previously in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, published in 2016/17. In addition, we considered other sites known to us from a range of sources, for example because they had been submitted to us in planning applications since 2016/17 or considered in the preparation of Neighbourhood Plans. We also approached the local authorities to understand if any public land was available.
We have published provisional findings of the sites assessed and considered to date. This is to allow for feedback from site promoter or other interested parties through the Regulation 18 Consultation of the Local Plan. It is also important to note that all the findings are a ‘snap-shot’ of information held at the time of assessment. Therefore, some of the information held within the LAA will have changed. Feedback submitted during the consultation plus other relevant evidence work undertaken by as part of the Local Plan Review will be used to refine the assessments and conclusions. An updated Land Availability Assessment will be published to accompany the Regulation 19 Consultation in early 2026.
We will review feedback on the provisional findings of the LAA and plus any relevant evidence work undertaken as part of the Local Plan Review to refine the assessments and conclusions. We will also assess any new sites submitted. An updated Land Availability Assessment will be published to accompany the Regulation 19 Consultation in early 2026.
Yes. We would welcome any further sites for consideration in the Land Availability Assessment. We recommend submitting information as part of the Regulation 18 consultation. Assessment criteria and a proforma for submitting sites are available on the Land Availability Assessment webpage.
