IT MAY have an

uninspiring title but the Local Plan will have a major impact on the way Brighton and Hove will look in the 21st Century.

It provides a planning blueprint which will shape future decisions on issues like housing, industry, the

environment and transport. Gary Spinks examines how the latest Local Plan proposals are creating a new

development versus countryside

battleground - the South Downs.

LIKE any other major town in Britain, Brighton wants to grow and thrive economically, but the ambition will place ever-increasing pressures on space.

As urban sites for development run out, planners are turning their attention to the outskirts and the future use of land either side of the A27 bypass.

For the first time the council is working on a planning blueprint which combines both Brighton and Hove.

The authority has organised forums and placed leaflets about its intentions in town halls, libraries and other community buildings to give thousands of people a chance to comment.

Some Local Plan policy proposals affect the Downs and greenfield sites and these are causing most

concern to residents and environmental campaigners.

With the Downs protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and destined to become Britain's latest national park there are worries about any plans to develop into the countryside.

Key issues include possible plans for a large park and ride site at Waterhall, north of the A27, a business park at Toad's Hole Valley and commercial development at Hangleton Bottom in Hove and the relocation of Brighton and Hove Albion football club to a site at Falmer.

The major concern expressed to the council is that if any schemes are started either on, or near, the Downs it will set a precedent for more development in the future.

Green Party councillor Keith Taylor said: "There is widespread concern about what sort of development is allowed to take place north of the A27.

"There is a lot of land in Brighton that could be put to use for employment and housing and the imperative must be to use that while retaining the green space we have got.

"The people's worry is that if you start one thing then it will lead to another and the spread of development will then not stop."

Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth says the council needs to give more time for public consultation and look more closely at the likely impact of its policy proposals before making firm decisions on land use.

Spokesman Chris Todd said: "There has been no thought on the long term implications and with the Government's desire to designate the Downs as a national park any suggestion to build on the Downs seems sheer folly.

"If we start to use land right to the edge of the A27 it means there will be nothing left for the future and that will increase the pressure to move into the Downs.

"Waterhall flies completely in the face of

Government policy, which only allows development in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty if it is in the national interest. Building a car park on the South Downs is not in the national interest."

The Labour-led council's policy proposals have been criticised by opposing Conservative councillors, who tabled a notice of motion on the issue at full council in November.

They said development on the Waterhall and Toad's Hole Valley sites should be ruled out.

Group leader Geoffrey Theobald said at the time: "They are part of our downland heritage and should be protected by the council."

The future home of Brighton and Hove Albion football club is another issue of concern to residents and environmental campaigners.

The Seagulls are playing temporarily at Withdean Stadium until a permanent base is found.

The council's Local Plan asked for views on the best site and Falmer came top with 36 per cent of respondents in favour. Waterhall scored 13 per cent, Shoreham Harbour seven per cent and Brighton Station six per cent.

This reinforced the results of the authority's referendum last May which revealed that two-thirds of voters preferred Falmer.

Friends of the Earth says Brighton Station would make a better site because of its central location and ease of access.

The concern is that any development at Falmer would lead to further development extensions eastwards towards Lewes and on to the South Downs.

Brighton and Hove Council set out its Local Plan policy proposals for the ten years from 2001 last year and invited comments. The deadline for views was last Friday.

Suggestions for amendments to policy proposals will be presented to councillors next month for

consideration and may be incorporated into the final draft of the Local Plan.

The plan itself, including any revisions, will be made available from April for a six-week public consultation.

Apart from the Downs-related issues, the council's policy proposals include making brownfield sites a priority for development.

The authority has identified six town sites for

business development and job creation. These are Preston Barracks, the Alliance and Leicester site in Hove, the Southern Water building and car park at Falmer, Patcham Court Farm, parts of the Hollingdean Industrial Estate and the Bell Tower gasworks land at Black Rock.

Provision of much-needed housing is considered essential and another aim is to improve public transport.

The council wants developers to incorporate crime prevention measures, energy conservation and good design into any new projects.

A spokesman said: "Brownfield sites are a priority but there will be some difficult choices to make about sensitive sites on the edge of the towns, including Waterhall for park and ride."

The council said the Local Plan would go to a public inquiry where all major objections would be assessed.

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