SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN
ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33) ..
SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33)
South Downs National Park Authority South Downs Centre North Street Midhurst West Sussex GU29 9DH 01730 814810
© Crown copyright and database rights 2019 Ordnance Survey 100050083 Cover: Lewes. © AK Purkiss FOREWORD i FOREWORD
Welcome to this, the South Downs National Park Local Plan (South Downs Local Plan). It was adopted by the National Park Authority in July 2019 and contains the policies that all planning applications should adhere to. This is the first Local Plan ever produced for the National Park: a landmark for this very special place. It looks different from most other local plans, because at its heart is the requirement to conserve and enhance the nationally important landscapes of the South Downs. But this Plan is not just about these precious, nationally important, landscapes, their wildlife and cultural heritage. It is about the wide range of benefits they provide for us all that must be nurtured and protected for future generations. It is about our communities that live and work in the National Park and their social and economic needs.
I thank everyone who has helped us create this Plan and commend it to all Margaret Paren those with an interest in the South Downs National Park. Chair of South Downs National Park Authority ii SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33) KEY MESSAGES
This is a landscape led Local Plan, for the first time looking at the South Downs the landscape within which it sits and is of a standard befitting a National Park as a whole with National Park purposes and our duty to the fore. The Plan as an exemplar of rural planning. introduces a new spatial portrait for the South Downs, which is set out opposite. A strategic approach of dispersed growth combined with a landscape capacity The Local Plan considers the geology and geography and working practices analysis within the Local Plan, to formulate policies and allocate sites is driven that have shaped the landscapes of the National Park and their influence on by a number of key factors: the evolution of settlement patterns and communities. We seek to capture the Evidence Base – studies/information such as Tranquillity Mapping, Dark principles of ‘ecosystem services’ into the making and delivery of the Local Night Skies, Transport Assessments, Ecoserve mapping to know what Plan. This approach ensures the services nature provides us (such as woodfuel, ecosystem services are available or in deficit clean water, health and well-being) from nature’s own ‘capital’ (timber, water, Evidence Base – the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment where fresh air) are factored into decision making and allocations. many parameters relate to landscape matters such as views, impact upon This thinking results in an emphasis on landscape and the nature of the the special qualities of the National Park and other statutory assessments areas as mapped out in the South Downs Integrated Landscape Character such as Habitat Regulation Assessments and Sustainability Appraisals Assessment. This has informed the evidence base, which is wide and varied Community Engagement and Feedback – particularly Neighbourhood and deliberately includes elements important to the National Park’s special Development Plans but also individual and collective meetings with qualities. parish representatives, use of a landowners network, the South Downs Allocations and policies are therefore landscape capacity led, not target Partnership and discussions with statutory agencies driven. This complies with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Officer and Member knowledge and professional insight as to what may DEFRA Vision and Circular 2010 on national parks. These documents, as be possible and what may be available. Given the range of officers Margaret Paren advises in the Foreword, do support our need to produce a involved in the Local Plan, the extensive knowledge of the National Park plan fit for the conservation and enhancement of the landscape and, in relation and the experience of Members in so many areas relevant to plan making, to housing, local affordable homes provision. this is key to sound plan making We have, in advance of the Local Plan, but using the same approach, actively We have searched thoroughly and rigorously for suitable development sites; it is promoted and assisted in over 50 Neighbourhood Development Plans, all just that in carrying out this work landscape conservation takes the primary role. incorporated into the Local Plan. This ensures evidence base, local knowledge We have a clear spatial strategy, one of dispersing a ‘medium’ level of and experience is used to fullest effect in creating a single Development Plan growth throughout communities within the National Park, rather than enabling Document over such a large area. growth just around the largest settlements. This has come from, and is broadly supported by, local communities, evidence of local need and a recognition that even the smallest communities need to live, breath and prosper over the next 15 years. We are also determined to ensure the quality of new build reflects key messages iii CONCEPTUAL SPATIAL DIAGRAM CONCEPTUAL SPATIAL DIAGRAM OF THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDING AREA
KEY
The Coastal Plain South Downs National Park boundary
The Dip Slope South Downs Way
River Valley Rail lines
Railway stations 16 The Scarp Slope Rivers The Western Downs A roads The Western Weald Settlement Key settlement and hub External growth pressures Gateway Marine influence Hub
ENGLISH CHANNEL iv SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33)
Image: Cuckmere Haven. © SDNPA CONTENTS v CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION...... 1 7G. TOWN CENTRES AND RETAIL...... 133
2. VISION AND OBJECTIVES...... 12 7H. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY...... 139
3. SPATIAL PORTRAIT AND SPATIAL STRATEGY...... 14 7I. INFRASTRUCTURE...... 145
4. CORE POLICIES ...... 32 7J. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE...... 150
5. A THRIVING LIVING LANDSCAPE...... 42 7K. CLIMATE CHANGE...... 156
5A. LANDSCAPE...... 44 7L. ADVERTISEMENTS & SHOP FRONTS...... 164
5B. BIODIVERSITY...... 58 7M. POLLUTION AND CONTAMINATION...... 166
5C. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT...... 68 8. STRATEGIC SITES...... 168
5D. WATER...... 75 SHOREHAM CEMENT WORKS...... 172
6. PEOPLE CONNECTED TO PLACES...... 82 NORTH STREET QUARTER AND ADJACENT EASTGATE AREA, LEWES...... 177
6A. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT...... 84 9. SITES & SETTLEMENTS...... 182
6B. UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK...... 93 10. MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK...... 262
7. TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE...... 98 APPENDIX 1: BROAD AREAS AND RIVER CORRIDORS...... 284
7A. DEVELOPMENT...... 100 APPENDIX 2: LOCAL PLAN POLICIES SUPERSEDED BY THE SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN...... 286 7B. HOMES (STRATEGIC POLICIES)...... 106 APPENDIX 3: MARKETING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGE 7C. AFFORDABLE HOMES...... 113 OF USE APPLICATIONS...... 322 7D. HOMES (DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICIES)...... 119 GLOSSARY...... 326 7E. GYPSIES, TRAVELLERS AND TRAVELLING SHOW PEOPLE...... 124
7F. EMPLOYMENT...... 128 vi SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33) POLICIES
CORE POLICY SD1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 33 STRATEGIC POLICY SD19: TRANSPORT AND STRATEGIC POLICY SD33: GYPSIES, TRAVELLERS ACCESSIBILITY...... 85 CORE POLICY SD2: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES...... 38 AND TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE...... 125 CORE POLICY SD3: MAJOR DEVELOPMENT...... 39 STRATEGIC POLICY SD20: WALKING, CYCLING STRATEGIC POLICY SD34: SUSTAINING THE AND EQUESTRIAN ROUTES...... 86 LOCAL ECONOMY...... 128 STRATEGIC POLICY SD4: LANDSCAPE CHARACTER.46 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD21: STRATEGIC POLICY SD35: EMPLOYMENT LAND... 130 STRATEGIC POLICY SD5: DESIGN...... 48 PUBLIC REALM, HIGHWAY DESIGN AND STRATEGIC POLICY SD36: TOWN AND STRATEGIC POLICY SD6: SAFEGUARDING VIEWS. 51 PUBLIC ART...... 89 VILLAGE CENTRES...... 135 STRATEGIC POLICY SD7: RELATIVE TRANQUILLITY .. 52 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD22: PARKING PROVISION...... 91 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD37: STRATEGIC POLICY SD8: DARK NIGHT SKIES ...... 55 DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN AND VILLAGE STRATEGIC POLICY SD23: SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIC POLICY SD9: BIODIVERSITY AND CENTRES...... 135 TOURISM ...... 94 GEODIVERSITY...... 59 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD38: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY STRATEGIC POLICY SD10: INTERNATIONAL SITES .63 SHOPS OUTSIDE CENTRES ...... 136 SD24: EQUESTRIAN USES...... 96 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD11: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD39: TREES, WOODLAND AND HEDGEROWS...... 66 STRATEGIC POLICY SD25: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY...... 102 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY...... 139 STRATEGIC POLICY SD12: HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD40: ENVIRONMENT...... 69 STRATEGIC POLICY SD26: SUPPLY OF HOMES..... 106 FARM AND FORESTRY DIVERSIFICATION...... 141 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD13: STRATEGIC POLICY SD27: MIX OF HOMES...... 109 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD41: LISTED BUILDINGS...... 71 STRATEGIC POLICY SD28: AFFORDABLE HOMES .114 CONVERSION OF REDUNDANT AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD14: STRATEGIC POLICY SD29: RURAL OR FORESTRY BUILDINGS...... 142 CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND EXCEPTION SITES...... 117 ADAPTATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS ...... 71 STRATEGIC POLICY SD42: INFRASTRUCTURE...... 145 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD30: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD15: REPLACEMENT DWELLINGS ...... 119 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD43: CONSERVATION AREAS ...... 72 NEW AND EXISTING COMMUNITY FACILITIES.... 146 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD31: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD16: EXTENSIONS TO EXISTING DWELLINGS AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY ARCHAEOLOGY...... 73 PROVISION OF ANNEXES AND OUTBUILDINGS .120 SD44: TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES STRATEGIC POLICY SD17: PROTECTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 148 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD32: WATER ENVIRONMENT...... 77 NEW AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY STRATEGIC POLICY SD45: STRATEGIC POLICY SD18: THE OPEN COAST ...... 79 WORKERS’ DWELLINGS ...... 121 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE...... 151 POLICIES vii
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD46: ALLOCATION POLICY SD61: NEW BARN ALLOCATION POLICY SD77: PROVISION AND PROTECTION OF OPEN SPACE, STABLES, THE STREET, BINSTED...... 191 MALLING BROOKS, LEWES...... 228 SPORT AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND BURIAL ALLOCATION POLICY SD62: STRATEGIC ALLOCATION POLICY SD78: GROUNDS/CEMETERIES...... 152 LAND AT GREENWAY LANE, BURITON...... 193 WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL DEPOT AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD47: FORMER BRICKWORKS SITE, MIDHURST...... 230 ALLOCATION POLICY SD63: LAND SOUTH OF THE LOCAL GREEN SPACES...... 155 A272 AT HINTON MARSH, CHERITON...... 195 STRATEGIC ALLOCATION POLICY SD79: STRATEGIC POLICY SD48: CLIMATE CHANGE HOLMBUSH CARAVAN PARK, MIDHURST...... 233 ALLOCATION POLICY SD64: LAND SOUTH OF AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES...... 157 LONDON ROAD, COLDWALTHAM...... 198 ALLOCATION POLICY SD80: STRATEGIC POLICY SD49: FLOOD RISK LAND AT THE FAIRWAY, MIDHURST...... 235 ALLOCATION POLICY SD65: MANAGEMENT...... 159 LAND AT PARK LANE, DROXFORD...... 201 ALLOCATION POLICY SD81: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD50: LAND AT LAMBERTS LANE, MIDHURST...... 237 ALLOCATION POLICY SD66: SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ...... 160 COWDRAY WORKS YARD, EASEBOURNE...... 203 ALLOCATION POLICY SD82: DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD51: LAND AT PARK CRESCENT, MIDHURST...... 239 ALLOCATION POLICY SD67: RENEWABLE ENERGY...... 162 ALLOCATION POLICY SD83: LAND AT EGMONT ROAD, EASEBOURNE...... 205 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD52: OFFHAM BARNS, OFFHAM...... 240 ALLOCATION POLICY SD68: FORMER SHOP FRONTS...... 164 ALLOCATION POLICY SD84: EASEBOURNE SCHOOL, EASEBOURNE...... 207 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD53: LAND AT KETCHERS FIELD, SELBORNE...... 242 ALLOCATION POLICY SD69: ADVERTISEMENTS...... 165 ALLOCATION POLICY SD85: LAND AT ELM RISE, FINDON...... 209 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD54: LAND AT PULENS LANE, SHEET...... 245 ALLOCATION POLICY SD70: POLLUTION AND AIR QUALITY...... 166 ALLOCATION POLICY SD86: SOLDIERS FIELD HOUSE, FINDON...... 211 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD55: LAND AT LOPPERS ASH, SOUTH HARTING...... 247 CONTAMINATED LAND...... 167 ALLOCATION POLICY SD71: ALLOCATION POLICY SD87: LAND LAND AT PETERSFIELD ROAD, GREATHAM...... 213 STRATEGIC SITE POLICY SD56: SHOREHAM NORTH OF THE FORGE, SOUTH HARTING...... 249 CEMENT WORKS...... 175 ALLOCATION POLICY SD72: ALLOCATION POLICY SD88: LAND AT FERN FARM, GREATHAM...... 215 STRATEGIC SITE POLICY SD57: NORTH STREET STEDHAM SAWMILL, STEDHAM...... 252 QUARTER AND ADJACENT EASTGATE AREA, ALLOCATION POLICY SD73: LAND ALLOCATION POLICY SD89: LEWES...... 180 AT ITCHEN ABBAS HOUSE, ITCHEN ABBAS...... 218 LAND SOUTH OF CHURCH ROAD, STEEP...... 254 ALLOCATION POLICY SD58: FORMER ALLOCATION POLICY SD74: LAND AT CASTELMER ALLOCATION POLICY SD90: LAND ALLOTMENTS, ALFRISTON...... 186 FRUIT FARM, KINGSTON NEAR LEWES...... 220 AT RAMSDEAN ROAD, STROUD...... 256 ALLOCATION POLICY SD59: KINGS RIDE, ALLOCATION POLICY SD75: ALLOCATION POLICY SD91: LAND SOUTH OF ALFRISTON...... 188 THE PUMP HOUSE, KINGSTON NEAR LEWES...... 221 HEATHER CLOSE, WEST ASHLING...... 258 ALLOCATION POLICY SD60: LAND AT ALLOCATION POLICY SD76: ALLOCATION POLICY SD92: CLEMENTS CLOSE, BINSTED...... 190 LAND AT OLD MALLING FARM, LEWES...... 224 LAND AT LONG PRIORS, WEST MEON...... 260 viii SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33)
1 INTRODUCTION
Image: Balloon ride over the South Downs. © Robert Maynard 1. INTRODUCTION 1
It is important that the plan is read as a whole. All Local 1.3 This Local Plan does not deal with minerals and waste. Instead, policies Plan policies should be viewed together and not in on this subject are developed through joint minerals and waste plans with the adjoining relevant authorities covering the National Park. isolation in the preparation and consideration of planning applications. All development plan policies will be taken 1.4 All planning applications should make reference to all relevant policies in minerals and waste plans, this Local Plan and NDPs. All parts of the into account in determining planning applications, along development plan are complementary and aim to fulfil the statutory purposes with other material considerations in a proportionate and duty of the National Park Authority. manner. The policies in this Local Plan do not list or cross- reference to all other policies that may be relevant. The core WHAT IS THE POLICIES MAP? policies set out the overarching principles of development 1.5 The South Downs Policies Map illustrates how the policies in the adopted development plan will apply. The Policies Map consists of three for the National Park. overview maps covering all of the National Park and about 50 inset maps. Together, these show all site allocations and designations that are most relevant to the determination of planning applications, including all those contained in WHAT IS THE LOCAL PLAN? made neighbourhood development plans. It also shows, where practicable, 1.1 The South Downs was established as a National Park in 2010. The planning constraints, for example environmental designations and conservation South Downs National Park Authority (National Park Authority) became the areas. The published paper and PDF (portable document format) versions of local planning authority for the National Park in 2011. The National Park the Policies Map show some but not all planning constraints. The National Park contains over 1,600km2 of England’s most iconic lowland landscapes stretching Authority will also maintain an interactive version of the Policies Map, which from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east. The South Downs Local will include more features than the paper and PDF versions, and allow a more Plan is the first Local Plan to plan for the National Park as a single entity. detailed look at specific localities.
1.2 This Local Plan is the statutory development plan for the whole 1.6 The adopted Policies Map is not itself part of the statutory development National Park, along with the minerals and waste plans and ‘made’ (adopted) plan. It will therefore be updated as required to reflect updated information, for Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDP). The planning system in this example, the making of further neighbourhood development plans. country is plan-led and statute states that decisions on planning applications must be taken in accordance with the development plan unless material WHAT DOES THE LOCAL PLAN SEEK TO ACHIEVE? considerations indicate otherwise. Accordingly this Local Plan will be used in 1.7 The Local Plan sets out how the National Park Authority will manage the determination of planning applications. development over the next 15 years. This is based on the statutory purposes and duty for national parks as specified in theNational Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949, as amended by the Environment Act 1995: 2 SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33)
FIGURE 1.1: THE PURPOSES AND DUTY 1.8 The DEFRA Vision and Circular on English National Parks and the Broads1 provides guidance to national park authorities on how to achieve their purposes and duty. The Local Plan builds on the framework of the South Downs National Park Partnership Management Plan (PMP)2, which was adopted