FAQs – New South Downs Local Plan

Frequently asked questions and guidance on making comments on the new South Downs Local Plan.

• Why do we need a new South Downs Local Plan?

  The current South Downs Local Plan is an award-winning local plan adopted in 2019 and sets out the planning policies and allocations (sites identified for development) for the South Downs National Park. Local Plans are required by law to be reviewed every five years and we need to ensure the Local Plan addresses important issues including nature recovery, climate change and supporting local communities to thrive.

  The new draft Local Plan, called the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan, prior to it submitted for examination by the Authority, has been prepared in the context of significant planning reforms under the previous and existing Government,.

  No final decisions have been made yet. There are still some formal stages to go through, but it’s hoped the new South Downs Local Plan can be adopted in 2027. The new Local Plan will then replace the 2019 South Downs Local Plan, and form part of the development plan alongside neighbourhood development plans and minerals and waste plans.

• What’s the overall vision of the new Local Plan?

  Planning powers have been given to National Park Authorities for a reason. Since the 1940s, it has been clear that National Parks are special places that need special treatment via the planning system. This Local Plan continues that legacy, and that of the award-winning first Local Plan, ensuring that this National Park remains a source of inspiration and wellbeing for generations to come.

  This Local Plan is built around a bold and inspiring vision of a vibrant place and a climate-resilient landscape where nature thrives, wildlife flourishes, clean water flows, and starry skies shine above. It’s a place shaped by stories old and new, where people feel connected, inspired, and at home.

  Our focus is on placemaking, rather than merely “planning” in its traditional sense. We want to create special places inspired by this nationally important landscape, with well-designed homes, buildings and spaces for local communities and visitors, with more affordable homes and a thriving rural economy that supports climate action.

  The goal is to grow sustainably and regeneratively within the context and capacity of the landscape – so that both people and nature can flourish together.

• Why are we planning for development in a National Park?

  The South Downs National Park is Britain’s most populated National Park with over 113,000 residents, living in one of the four towns and smaller villages and settlements. It’s important we plan for the future and continued vitality of these towns and villages, supporting local facilities and ensuring there are suitable homes, particularly affordable homes for local communities. The National Park also hosts nearly 6,000 businesses.  With appropriate, sustainable growth comes significant wider benefits for people, including health and wellbeing, habitat creation for wildlife, community infrastructure, jobs and climate action.

• What has been done so far?

  The process of preparing a new Local Plan started in 2022 and a series of important evidence studies have been undertaken, including a “call for sites”, Land Availability Assessment and Housing and Economic Needs Assessment. Other key evidence base studies include: Transport, Renewable Energy, Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments, Local Green Space and Settlement Facilities Assessment. We have also undertaken the following regulatory assessments: Habitats Regulations Assessment; and Integrated Impact Assessment (incorporating Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Health Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment).

  Early engagement has been carried out with town and parish councils from February 2023, including encouraging them to prepare ‘parish priorities statements’ to set out their own local evidence and aspirations for their areas. We also undertook an ‘early participation’ public engagement on the scope of the new Local Plan from June to September 2024.

  The Authority launched its first formal consultation under Regulation 18 between January and March 2025. The process was guided by the bespoke Community Involvement Plan and aimed to gather stakeholder feedback on draft policies and site allocations.

  A comprehensive outreach strategy was implemented, including digital notifications to over 1,200 contacts, press releases, website content, promotional videos, and over 20 in-person consultation  events across the National Park.

  The Authority also hosted an online exhibition and recorded webinar to ensure accessibility.

  In total, more than 1,900 individuals and organisations responded, generating over 3,700 comments—spanning policies, site allocations, and supporting assessments.

  All submitted comments have been considered in preparing the Reg 19 Proposed Submission Local Plan and are available to view on the consultation portal at https://sdnpalocalplanreview.commonplace.is/ or by reading our New Local Plan – Regulation 18 Consultation Report.

• What are the next steps?

  Subject to approval by Members of the National Park Authority in March, the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) new Local Plan will be published for six weeks in May – June 2026.

  The Regulation 19 consultation is the last opportunity for people to comment on the new Local Plan before the Authority submits it to the Planning Inspectorate for examination.

  The Planning Inspector will be sent any representations that are made during this Regulation 19 publication. Any comments should specify the matters to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made relating to legal compliance or soundness. Plans are considered ‘sound’ if they are:

  • Positively prepared – providing a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development.
  • Justified – an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence;
  • Effective – deliverable over the plan period, and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground
  • Consistent with national policy – enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in this Framework and other statements of national planning policy, where relevant.

   

• Does this mean the previous South Downs Local Plan will be completely redundant?

  Under planning laws, this is a completely new South Downs Local Plan and will replace the 2019 Local Plan in its entirety upon its adoption.

  However, there are many elements of the award-winning South Downs Local Plan that remain relevant and fit for the future of the National Park. These include:

  • Its landscape-led approach, reflecting the primary purpose of National Park designation – to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area.
  • An ecosystems services approach, recognising that human influences are part of a much wider natural capital system which provides us with goods and services such as clean air and water and food.
  • A dispersed growth strategy, reflecting the multi-centric character of the many towns and villages spread across the National Park and the need for their communities to thrive and grow sustainably.
• What are the focuses of the new Local Plan?

  There are 58 thematic strategic policies covering a range of matters and set out the spatial strategy for development and provision for appropriate growth within a landscape-led context.  These include:

  • Conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park and its setting.
  • Biodiversity restoration at all scales and making nature bigger, better and more joined up.
  • Protection and mitigation of impacts on European designated nature sites including nutrient neutrality.
  • Mitigation and adaptation to climate change, including nature based solutions and coastal planning.
  • Sustainable travel into, within and across the National Park.
  • The local economy and jobs particularly in land management and the visitor economy.
  • New homes including accommodation for Travellers, focusing on affordable homes for local communities.
  • Green, blue and grey infrastructure serving communities in and around the National Park.
• What is the proposed level of growth in housing?

  Our evidence studies indicate the appropriate figure for housing need in the National Park is 323 homes per year (or 6,137 new homes between 2024 and 2042).  This is based on analysis of population growth trends and maintaining the economically active population.

  Our focus, as it always has been, will be to ensure the right development in the right place within the context and capacity of the landscape and ensuring that with sustainable growth comes the wider benefits of affordable housing, habitat creation, community infrastructure, thriving rural economies and climate action.

• Which sites have been allocated for development?

  No final decisions have been made yet.

  The proposed allocations in the new Local Plan have been informed by a suite of evidence base studies and consultation with local communities.

  The Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) includes 80 allocations contributing to housing supply and spread across the towns and villages of the National Park.

  These will go before public consultation and then examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

• How do I have my say?

  A six-week public consultation will begin in May and will be an opportunity to comment on the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) new Local Plan.  Guidance will be provided on responding to the consultation.  You can register to receive updates and notification of the consultation by signing up to receive planning news at or providing contact details to planningpolicy@southdowns.gov.uk.

  We will log and summarise the main issues arising from the representations on the Proposed Submission Local Plan.

  Providing that no substantial issues are raised regarding soundness and legal compliance of the Local Plan, it will be submitted for examination alongside any representations received, any proposed modifications and the suite of supporting documents.

• How does the Local Plan relate to the new Partnership Management Plan?

  The South Downs National Park’s Partnership Management Plan 2026-2031 sets what the National Park Authority, and partners across the National Park, will deliver together up to 2031. It includes an overarching Vision for 2060. The PMP is a statutory, five-year strategic documents required for all UK National Parks under the Environment Act 1995, outlining a shared vision for landscape management.  The PMP contains a series of planning principles which guide delivery aspects of the PMP.  These planning principles form the objectives of the new Local Plan to ensure there is a tangible and effective link between these two important Plans for the National Park.

  The South Downs Local Plan is a spatial plan for development, such as housing, economic activity, and renewable energy, in the National Park. The National Park Authority is a Local Planning Authority and therefore has to produce a Local Plan under Town and Country Planning Laws. This Local Plan must align with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

  The Local Plan sets out where development should happen, what it should look like, and how it will contribute to the purposes of the National Park.

  The Local Plan is an important means of delivering aspects of the Partnership Management Plan which is a material consideration in planning decisions.