As with many activities in the South Downs National Park, we need to balance everyone’s enjoyment of the National Park with keeping these landscapes special for future generations.

The Authority’s Planning Committee voted unanimously today to extend the current one-year permission for a further five years for Boomtown Festival, which is held at Matterley Farm during August. This temporary permission is subject to a number of planning and monitoring requirements.

This application has been very carefully considered and includes a substantial Management Plan around biodiversity, landscape and ecological mitigation, including the creation of a 1.75-hectare meadow, hedgerow improvement, wildlife protection zones to protect habitats, and a commitment to annual independent ecological surveys.

We appreciate the short-term impacts, but our decision strikes a balance. It takes into account the temporary nature of the event and its wider benefits around enjoyment and understanding of the National Park, as well as the cultural and economic benefits.

The five-year permission will give us the time to gather a breadth of evidence and information to fully understand the impacts of the festival and allows for long-term, strategic planning for habitat enhancement as part of the Management Plan.

Members of the Planning Committee also agreed a condition to be added for an independent and thorough assessment of the economic benefits of the festival.