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Recent highlights from Neighbourhood Planning



Recent highlights from Neighbourhood Planning

April 21, 2020

An update on Neighbourhood Planning by Chris Paterson, Communities Lead for the National Park.

Over the past three months a number of our Neighbourhood Planning groups have made significant progress. There are now 56 Neighbourhood Plans in the South Downs National Park, with 31 of these plans adopted by the Authority. A number of Neighbourhood Planning groups are considering updates and reviews to their adopted Plans. The highlights of the last quarter include:

  • Arundel Neighbourhood Plan is the first Neighbourhood Plan to be reviewed and adopted by the Authority. The modified plan was adopted by the Authority in December 2019.
  • The Fittleworth Neighbourhood Plan passed referendum in November 2019 and was made the SDNPA in December 2019, the 30th Neighbourhood Plan to be made by the Authority
  • The Seaford Neighbourhood Plan was subject to a community referendum on 6th February 2020, with 89.21 per cent voting yes in the referendum. Following the successful referendum the SDNPA made the Neighbourhood plan in March 2020
  • Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan passed its community referendum on 5 March with 94.8 per cent voting yes in the referendum.
  • Stedham with Iping Neighbourhood Plan has successfully passed its Examination, the Examination was concluded after a brief pause to allow the South Downs Local Plan to progress to its adoption. Following the successful examination the modifications proposed by the Examiner were agreed in a decision statement presented to the SDNPA Planning Committee in January 2020. The Stedham with Iping Neighbourhood Plan referendum was scheduled for May 2020. However, due to the Coronavirus and the announcement that all referendums will be suspended until May 2021 this referendum has now been postponed indefinitely. The Stedham with Iping Neighbourhood Plan will carry significant weight in decision making as per Government Guidance

We will continue to support all our neighbourhood and community planning groups through this challenging time, and officers are on hand should groups have any questions relating to the changes to neighbourhood planning in the South Downs National Park.