An official order designating the South Downs as a National Park was being signed this morning.
The occasion marks the formal last stage for the Countryside Agency in preparing the designation for the Environment Secretary.
The designation order was due to be signed by the Countryside Agency's chairman Ewen Cameron and chief executive Richard Wakeford, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The order will be published and placed on deposit for public inspection from January 27.
People will then have until February 28, to inspect the order, which will consist of maps of the proposed park boundary and related papers.
Residents will be able to make comments either in support or against the proposals.
The Secretary of State will then determine the next stage.
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