District Dispatch

Thank you to everyone who has already taken part in our consultation on the new Chichester Local Plan 2045. Since launching the consultation, we’ve received valuable feedback from local residents, businesses, community groups and local organisations about the opportunities and challenges facing the Chichester plan area.At this early stage, we’re not consulting on specific development sites or detailed planning policies. Instead, we want to hear what you value most about your local area; the challenges you think the area will face in the future; the issues that should be prioritised; and how you would like to be involved as the plan develops. If you haven’t already taken part, there’s still plenty of time to have your say before the consultation closes on Friday 25 September. Take part by visiting: www.chichester.gov.uk/localplanconsultation

As you may know, the Government has introduced significant changes to the way local plans are prepared. As a result, our council is one of 39 councils across England that must begin preparing a new local plan following Government planning reforms that came into force in March this year — despite having adopted its current local plan less than a year ago. The changes require affected councils to prepare plans under a revised national system and new timetable, in order to meet increased housing targets.

The new local plan will cover the Chichester plan area, which includes all parts of the district outside the South Downs National Park. The South Downs National Park Authority prepares a separate local plan for areas within the National Park.

One of the most significant changes is that the Government has introduced a suite of national decision-making policies in the latest National Planning Policy Framework, which can’t be duplicated in local plans. This is intended to create a more consistent planning framework across the country while allowing local plans to focus more clearly on local priorities.

As a result, the new Chichester local plan will concentrate on the issues that matter most to our communities, including where new homes and employment land should be located, the additional infrastructure needed to support growth, how we respond to climate change, and how we support the future of our city, towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

A local plan is one of the most important documents a council produces. It is a long-term blueprint for how an area will grow and develop over the next 15 years. It helps to determine where new homes, jobs, schools, transport improvements and community facilities should be located, while protecting the landscapes, biodiversity, heritage and local character that people value.

Without a clear plan, development can be more speculative and less predictable. A local plan provides a framework that helps manage growth in a way that benefits both current and future residents.

While local plans support growth, they are equally important in safeguarding the character and identity of an area. They help protect valuable green spaces, landscapes, wildlife habitats, heritage assets and conservation areas from inappropriate development. By balancing development needs with environmental considerations, local plans help ensure that communities can grow without losing the qualities that make them distinctive and attractive places to live.

New homes and businesses need supporting infrastructure. Schools, healthcare facilities, roads, public transport, utilities and recreational spaces all play a crucial role in creating thriving communities. A local plan helps coordinate this infrastructure alongside new development, ensuring that growth is accompanied by the services and facilities that residents need. This strategic approach helps communities remain sustainable and resilient as they expand.

Our existing Local Plan and Site Allocations Development Plan Document remain in place and will continue to guide planning decisions until a new plan is adopted.

Feedback from the current consultation will help shape the direction of the new plan from the very beginning, so please have your say by visiting: www.chichester.gov.uk/localplanconsultation.

Best wishes

Cllr Bill Brisbane

Cabinet Member for Planning at Chichester District Council