West Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2016 If you would like a copy of this publication in another format (audio, Braille, large print, another language) please contact the Communications Officer, Environment and Development,West Sussex County Council,The Grange,Tower Street, Chichester,West Sussex PO19 1RH. Telephone 01243 777544 or email [email protected] For further information about the plan: Telephone:01243 777042 Facsimile: 01243 756862 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.westsussex.gov.uk/splan Designed and published by West Sussex County Council, February 2005 Environment and Development, Design & Cartography Team. Printed by Pica Design and Print Ltd. ISBN: 0-86260-543-1 Kieran Stigant Director for Environment and Development February 2005 West Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2016 February 2005 Adopted on 25 October 2004 following the resolution of County Council on 23 July 2004 Kieran Stigant Director for Environment and Development West Sussex County Council County Hall Chichester West Sussex PO19 1RQ January 2005 [Page No.] Foreword A Message from the Cabinet Member for Strategic Environmental Services The Structure Plan sets out our strategic planning framework and guides the way West Sussex will grow and develop during the years leading up to 2016 and beyond. We have planned positively for the future to improve the quality of life for everyone in West Sussex. The Plan is the result of several years' technical work and extensive consultations with our residents and businesses. We have listened carefully to the views of the public and many organisations, and have worked with the District and Borough Councils in coming up with this new Plan for the future of West Sussex. The overriding message from the public and our partners was loud and clear: meet the needs of communities and businesses but protect the character of West Sussex and the environment in general. Our Vision for West Sussex to 2016 and beyond reflects this message strongly: we want West Sussex to continue to be a county with a network of small to medium-sized towns and villages, where people feel that the countryside is never far away and where social and economic needs are met in high quality environments. Our Strategy to deliver this Vision has three elements: regenerating the coastal area; managing the pressure for economic growth in the north east of the County; and meeting the needs of rural communities. The delivery of development has been clearly linked with the absolute need to have in place the necessary infrastructure needed to support it so that existing services do not buckle under the strain. I believe that we have put in place a sound and robust development plan for West Sussex that will strike the right balance between meeting the social and economic needs of our County and protecting its special character and environment. The adopted Plan will provide the benchmark for the way that strategic decisions on new development proposed in West Sussex are considered. February 2005 i Foreword West Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2016 Various modifications have been made during the preparation of the Plan arising from the responses received during the consultation processes. It may seem like a long, drawn out process but I believe that this has helped develop a Plan which is clear in its vision, aims, and strategy and which has widespread support. I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the debate. Steve Waight Cabinet Member for Strategic Environmental Services ii February 2005 WestWest SussexSussex StructureStructure PlanPlan 2001-20162001-2016 [ChapterContents Name] Contents Shaping our future 1 Introduction 1 Our Vision for West Sussex 1 Realising the Vision 1 Development Strategy 2 Transport 5 The longer term 6 Summary of the policies 6 Background 11 Status of the Plan 11 Revising the Plan 11 Format of the Plan 12 International, national and regional context 13 Strategic context 13 Sustainable development 13 Complementary strategies and plans 14 Monitoring and review 14 Location 17 Introduction 17 Locational strategy (Policy LOC1) 17 The countryside (Policy LOC2) 25 Needs 27 Introduction 27 Targets 27 Level of residential and employment development (Policy NE1) 27 Housing provision (Policies NE2, NE3) 31 Managing the release of housing land (Policy NE4) 33 Employment provision (Policy NE5) 35 Coastal regeneration (Policy NE6) 38 The North East of West Sussex (Policy NE7) 42 Rural needs (Policy NE8) 44 Town, village, district and neighbourhood centres (Policy NE9) 45 Retail development (Policy NE10) 46 Community facilities and services (Policy NE11) 47 Leisure, cultural and tourism facilities (Policy NE12) 49 Transport (Policy NE13) 50 Walking, cycling and mobility (Policy NE14) 51 Passenger transport (Policy NE15) 52 Freight (Policy NE16) 54 Roads (Policy NE17) 55 Public parking (Policy NE18) 60 Gatwick Airport (Policy NE19) 60 General aviation (Policy NE20) 63 FebruaryJanuary 20052005 [Page No.]iii ContentsWest Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2016 West Sussex Structure[Chapter Plan 2001-2016 Name] Transport interchanges (Policy NE21) 64 Disused transport land and sites (Policy NE22) 65 Telecommunications (Policy NE23) 65 Character 67 Introduction 67 Targets 67 Character (Policy CH1) 67 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Policy CH2) 70 Settlement pattern and strategic gaps (Policy CH3) 72 Conservation areas and historic towns and villages (Policy CH4) 74 Buildings of architectural or historical importance (Policy CH5) 75 Historic parks and gardens (Policy CH6) 76 Archaeology (Policy CH7) 77 Environment, Resources and Assets 79 Introduction 79 Targets 79 Making the best use of land (Policy ERA1) 79 Nature conservation (Policy ERA2) 80 The coast (Policy ERA3) 82 Flooding and coastal defence (Policy ERA4) 84 Air, soil, and water (Policy ERA5) 86 Minerals (Policy ERA6) 87 Energy generation and supply (Policy ERA7) 88 Waste (Policy ERA8) 89 Development 93 Introduction 93 Targets 93 High quality development (Policy DEV1) 93 Mixed-uses (Policy DEV2) 96 Infrastructure requirements (Policy DEV3) 97 Travel needs and choices (Policy DEV4) 99 Parking provision (Policy DEV5) 101 Strategic locations and urban extensions (Policy DEV6) 101 Appendices A: Key Criteria for the Locational Strategy 105 B: Strategic Locations - Strategic Development Principles 109 GlossaryKey Diagram and Abbreviations) 113 GlossaryIndex and Abbreviations) 121 KeyIndex Diagram 128 iv February 2005 WestWest SussexSussex StructureStructure PlanPlan 2001-20162001-2016 Shaping[Chapter our Name] future Shaping our future Introduction 1. West Sussex remains essentially rural in character despite the rapid expansion of the urban areas which has taken place over the last 50 years. It is an attractive and desirable place in which to live, work and play, and to visit. We want this to continue for current and future generations and for everyone in the community and we want the County, its urban and rural areas and communities, to be as identifiable in 2016 as it is today. This Plan, the West Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2016, with other plans and strategies, has a key role to play in achieving this goal. Our Vision for West Sussex 2. The Plan sets out our Vision for West Sussex to 2016 and beyond which is shared by the District and Borough Councils: we want West Sussex to continue to be a county with a network of small to medium-sized towns and villages, where people feel that the countryside is never far away and where social and economic needs are met in high quality environments. 3. The Vision is about promoting, in all our urban and rural areas, wider economic health and prosperity (particularly of our coastal towns), social progress and environmental protection. It is about protecting the countryside and enhancing its value to the whole community, and setting a pattern for what our towns and villages will look like in the future. We will support the development of mixed and balanced communities which meet the needs of all for homes and jobs, as well as for other facilities and services such as shops, health, education, leisure and community uses. Although new development is inevitable, there is a need to ensure that it is of high quality, whatever it is for and wherever it is located, and that the least harm is caused and that the most benefits are secured, particularly to the environment. 4. The Structure Plan contributes to this Vision, and to the County Council’s overall aim to improve the quality of life in the County, by guiding and controlling future land-use and development. We recognise that realising the Vision and Strategy of this Plan depends upon partnerships with other organisations and is subject to changes at the local, regional, and national levels. For example, these could include changes to national planning guidance, to regional planning guidance, and in the national economy. However, as far as it is possible, the Plan creates the necessary certainty and confidence for residents, businesses, developers and service and other infrastructure providers to make their own plans for the future. 5. The shared Vision is reflected in the Plan’s three interrelated aims. These aims take account of the views of residents and businesses about the future of West Sussex and the concerns of the different agencies and organisations working in the County. The aims are: • to meet the diverse needs of our communities and businesses; • to protect the distinctive character of our towns and villages, countryside and coast; and • to protect the environment and use our natural resources and assets wisely. Realising the Vision 6. We want to plan positively to ensure that the needs of the residents of West Sussex for homes and jobs are met and that services and facilities are retained and improved. Ensuring the provision of homes for those who cannot afford to rent or buy on the open housing market and for people in key jobs will be a priority.