South Downs National Park looking for development sites

South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) launched its call for sites last week for a wide range of developments.

These include housing, retirement homes, office spaces, sites for renewable energy, spaces for travellers and special sites for biodiversity.

The authority is also asking for people to put forward “local green spaces” which communities think need to be protected from any future development.

The authority wants people to put forward land for a variety of potential developments

Lucy Howard, planning policy manager for SDNPA, said: “We’re launching our call for sites as part of the local plan review, which government requires us to do every five years.

 “It’s important to say this is not just about housing. We’re asking people to put forward sites for a whole range of uses. Just because a site is put forward does not mean it will be allocated and, of course, landscape will always come first in our appraisal.

“This call for sites is a key aspect of the local plan review, which is a detailed planning process that is likely to take up to three years.

Lucy Howard, planning policy manager at SDNPA

“It’s crucial we keep the local plan up-to-date otherwise the national park would be more vulnerable to speculative developments that haven’t been properly consulted on.

“This will be a review, rather than a brand new plan, and we will be keeping our award-winning landscape-led approach.”

The local plan is required by law to be updated.

The call-out runs until September 28.

After this, the authority will be looking at the suitability of all the submitted sites for potential development.

Lucy added: “We’re working very closely with parish and town councils across the national park, as well as other key partners, to look for new development sites to meet local need without adversely impacting on the landscape of the national park.”

The local plan review will go through two rounds of public consultation before it is examined by the government’s planning inspectorate. The document for future development within the national park should be completed by 2025.