South Downs Local Plan

The Local Plan sets the policies against which planning applications will be considered and allocates land for a variety of uses.  In April 2018 the South Downs National Park Authority  submitted the first Local Plan for the whole of the South Downs National Park to the Government for examination. Once adopted, the new South Downs Local Plan will replace the existing planning policies operating across the South Downs National Park.

Main Modifications

The scheduled hearings for the Local Plan examination at Midhurst and Falmer have ended. Consultation on the Main Modifications to the Local Plan has now closed (see the Main Modifications webpage for further details).

The SDNPA has prepared an informal track-changed version of the Local Plan to include all Main Modifications and Minor Edits. This has been updated to include all changes made to the Local Plan text since submission, including changes made as a consequence of the Inspector’s post-hearing note INSP.16. Further minor factual edits resulting from the latest consultation may be necessary.

Note that this version is for information only, and subject to further change prior to adoption. Comments made on the Main Modifications public consultation should be based on the Main Modifications schedule, SDNPA.16 (See the Main Modifications webpage for further details).

Main Modifications LP Change Final

Following the hearings, Main Modifications have now been consulted on. Please see above for details on our Main Modifications Page.

All updated evidence and supporting documents  are on pages:

•  Examination Page (updated regularly)
•  Core Document Library Page

Representations

• Representations Page   All representations and comments made in response to the publication of the Pre-submission Local Plan

Background Papers

The following summarise the information in the technical documents.

• Landscape Background Paper (TLL01)
• Development Strategy Background Paper (TSF02)
• Neighbourhood Development Plans Background Paper (Core12)
• Ecosystem Services Background Paper (Core05)
• Affordable Housing Background Paper (TSF12)
• Housing Update Background Paper (TSF07a)
• Supply of Homes Background Paper (TSF07)
• Settlement Boundary Review Background Paper (TSF05)
• Gypsy & Traveller Background Paper (TSF14)
• Biodiversity Background Paper (TLL11)
• Transport Background Paper (PCP01)
• Sites and Settlements Background Paper (SS01)
• Open Space Sports and Recreation Background Paper (TSF40)
• Agriculture and Forestry Background Paper (TSF34)
• Employment Background Paper (TSF28)
• Sites and Settlements Route Map (SS02)
• Flooding Background Paper (SS03)

Local Plan timetable

The timetable  (SDNPA Local Development Scheme Oct 2018) for the Local Plan is as follows:

Brownfield Register and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

The SDNPA is required to prepare a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) to support the  preparation of the Local Plan.

The Authority also maintains a brownfield land register for the whole of the National Park.  Both this register and the Authority Monitoring Report were last published in December 2018.

Extensions and Replacement Dwellings Technical Advice Notice

The SDNPA has produced a Technical Advice Notice (or ‘TAN’) to aid decision-makers and applications in interpreting Policy SD30: Replacement Dwellings and Policy SD31: Extensions to existing Dwellings, Annexes and Outhouses. Please note that the basis for decision-making is the development plan.

Extensions and Replacement Dwellings Technical Advice Note

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