Parish Priority Statements

To support community input into the Local Plan Review, parish councils have the option to prepare a Parish Priority Statement.

The Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill (LURB) is proposing similar priority statements as an optional, “light touch”, alternative to Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs).

Unlike a NDP, a PPS would not form part of the Development Plan, but instead would have similar weight to a Parish Plan, and would help to inform the South Downs LPR.

A PPS allows parish councils to set out their aspirations for the future and identify any local issues which will be relevant to the South Downs LPR, without the need for significant resource or investment by the parish council.

Parishes may prepared PPS jointly with neighbouring parishes.

Community engagement should underpin the development of PPSs. Greater weight can be given to PPS which can demonstrate community engagement.

Once prepared by the parish council and submitted to SDNPA, the PPS will form part of the evidence base of the South Downs LPR.

The deadline for PPS submissions to the SDNPA is 31 October 2023 unless an alternative deadline is agreed with the SDNPA.

To support parishes in the production of their PPS, a template has been produced.

This follows the limited guidance that has been set out for “Neighbourhood Priority Statements” (NPS) in the LURB. The use of this template is intended to allow a PPS to be easily converted into a NPS once the LURB has Royal assent (anticipated for Autumn 2023).

You can find out more about Neighbourhood Development Plans and other forms of community plans here.