2019–20
SOUTH DOWNS
NATIONAL PARK
CORPORATE PLAN
FOREWORD
This Corporate Plan sets out our ambitious plans for what we, as the National Park
Authority, can deliver over the next year. Our vision remains far-reaching, with
landscape-scale projects at the heart of our plans to deliver both for the South Downs
National Park and to contribute to wider challenges facing us as a nation.
Our Corporate Plan prioritises the establishment of
the South Downs as a nature recovery network and
includes extensive projects to conserve and restore
our rare chalk and heathland landscapes, and to
strengthen pollinators through our Beelines project.
We will continue to work closely with Defra and
our farm clusters to shape the future of farming by
trialling and testing our proposed environmental
management scheme.
Never has our connection with the natural world
been so important for health and wellbeing and
for the future of our stunning landscapes and wider
environment. So we will continue to think big in
searching for new ways to reconnect people to
their National Park. Our John Muir programme
will reach out to families in those groups not
already accessing the National Park. In celebration
of Defra’s Year of Green Action and the 70th
Anniversary of the creation of our protected
landscapes, a public awareness campaign with
the Areas of Outstanding Beauty in the South East
will show young people from London and other
urban areas how easy it is for them to access and
enjoy the landscapes that have been designated
for them.
We are, of course, not alone in our efforts to
conserve and enhance the South Downs. Work
with our partners to prepare our new Partnership
Management Plan for 2020–2025 is nearing
completion and the clear vision set out in this Plan
will guide all who care and have responsibility for
this national asset in the coming years.
There are challenges and uncertainties ahead, but
as we await the publication of the Glover review of
National Parks and Protected Landscapes we are
moving ambitiously forward, finding the solutions
and forging the partnerships that will secure the
special qualities of the South Downs National Park
for generations to come.
Trevor Beattie,
Chief Executive,
South Downs National Park Authority
KEY PRIORITIES WE WILL:
Tests and trials for
environmental land
management schemes
• Work with Defra and farm clusters on test and trials of the
new environmental land management scheme
Establish the South
Downs as a nature
recovery network
• Publish the South Downs GI Framework and implement a
programme of work
PROJECTS WE WILL:
Develop landscape
scale projects which
restore and manage
priority landscapes
• Complete and implement Winchester Area study
• Facilitate the next stage of the Arun Valley Vision Project
• Implement the action plan for Truleigh Hill Landscape
project
• Facilitate delivery of landscape scale chalk project
• Develop and bring forward proposal for landscape scale
pollinator project
Heathlands Reunited • Deliver with partners year 4 of the HLF programme
Extend catchment
management approach
Identify partners and work up project proposals for:
• (CHAMP) from Brighton to Worthing
• River Rother
• Friston Forest
• Portsmouth Water catchment area
Woodland Trust
partnership
• Deliver year 3 of partnership programme helping
woodland owners with support to enable sustainable
management
CORE WORK WE WILL:
Maintain Heritage
Assets
• Agree action plan for implementing recommendations for
scheduled ancient monuments and non-designated assets
Maintain International
Dark Sky Reserve
Management Plan
• Explore collaborative areas of work through a Dark Night
Skies (DNS) Partnership with existing International Dark-
Sky Association (IDA) sites and other UK protected areas
• Develop opportunities for addressing key lighting threats
and increasing engagement
• Maintain key IDA requirements for Reserve (e.g. mapping,
events, annual reporting, planning)
South Downs Forestry
Champions
• Support delivery of Forestry Champions action plan
Site specific habitat
management
• Agree approach and plans to control invasive non-native
species (INNS)
• Agree habitat management for INNS with partners
• Habitat management to protect and enhance priority
habitats
Landscape character
refresh
• Commission and oversee consultants to update the
landscape character assessment for the South Downs
• Pilot use of monitoring the SDNPA from space
Tranquillity mapping • Set up a citizen science project to refresh the existing
tranquillity map
Strategic priorities
We will develop strategies
and support or lead strategic
overarching partnerships
and projects which deliver
our first objective to conserve
wildlife, the natural beauty
of the landscape and cultural
heritage – a thriving living
landscape.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
• Number of Scheduled Ancient
Monuments (SAMs) that have
been taken off the ‘vulnerable’
or ‘at risk register’
• Number of woodland owners
engaged and % of woodland
under management
• Habitat management plans for
INNS agreed with partners
• Number of projects implemented
through the action plan
with South Downs Forestry
Champions
A THRIVING LIVING LANDSCAPE
1
KEY PRIORITY WE WILL:
Improve the health
and well-being of
communities and
residents
• Complete the strategic review for health and well-being
• Identify projects that will deliver PMP priorities
Engage new audiences
from underrepresented
groups
• Promote the John Muir programme as outreach to
families who would otherwise not engage with the
National Park
PROJECTS WE WILL:
Social prescribing • Define and deliver social prescribing projects with
partners
Centurion Way • Secure planning permission for next phase
• Secure funding opportunities for project delivery
Equality and social
inclusion projects
• Implement John Muir Project to increase use of the
National Park by hard to reach families
Introduce entry
signage to the SDNP
• Erect 19 entry signs across the SDNP
• Assess impact and consider the installation of further
signs
Public awareness
campaign to celebrate
the 70th Anniversary
of protected
landscapes
• Develop 9 posters advertising key sites accessible by
sustainable transport
• Promote them across the SE transport network during
summer 2019
CORE WORK WE WILL:
Selected improvements
to the existing network
• Complete improvements to the South Downs Way
funded by the Mend Our Way campaign
• Complete phase 4 of the Egrets Way shared route
Learning • Host the National Parks UK Learning & Engagement
Network 2019
Diversify opportunities
through the VRS
• Establish a volunteer youth pilot scheme/ project
• Ensure that SDNPA projects include new opportunities
for volunteers
Improve visitor
information on the
website
• Update Discovery Map and make it more prominent
Strategic priorities
We will develop strategies,
support or lead strategic
overarching partnerships and
projects which deliver our
second objective to promote
understanding and enjoyment
through volunteering &
learning, high-quality access
management and providing
information and events –
people connected to places.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
• % aware of SDNP in YouGov
poll
• Number of volunteer days
undertaken by the South Downs
Volunteer Ranger Service
(SDVRS)
• Number SDVRS and other
volunteers working in the
National Park on non-
conservation tasks
PEOPLE LINKED TO PLACES
2
KEY PRIORITIES WE WILL:
Position NP as a
sustainable tourism
destination
• Develop a sustainable tourism network for providers
within the South Downs National Park
Improve visitor
experience
• Improve the SDNP website to deliver business support
for the visitor economy and rural enterprise
Promote rural
innovation
• Identify the top 100 enterprises within the South Downs
National Park that deliver NP purposes
Increase delivery of
Affordable Housing
• Implement initiatives such as affordable housing grants
• Devise, test and deliver other initiatives or mechanisms
to identify sites and deliver homes
PROJECTS WE WILL:
Discover England
– National Park
Experience Phase II
• Develop South Downs bookable tourism experiences
tailored towards national and international markets
Deliver a robust
planning framework
• Consult on main modifications to the Local Plan in
spring 2019
• Adopt the Local Plan summer 2019
• Produce guidance to support the implementation of the
Local Plan
CORE WORK WE WILL:
Develop hubs and
gateways
• Create at least 1 new hub or gateway to the National
Park incorporating the shared identity
Whole Estate Plans • Progress four more Whole Estate Plans
Neighbourhood
planning
• Continue to support communities inside the National
Park in the preparation of neighbourhood development
plans and other community led plans
• Continue to share best practice inside and outside
the National Park to fully utilise and develop the
neighbourhood planning team
Ensure, timely
provision of
infrastructure to
support development
in the National Park
• Operate S106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
processes effectively to maximise receipt of monies
owed
• Implement the Infrastructure Business Plan (IBP) to
prioritise allocation of CIL income
Strategic priorities
We will develop strategies,
support or lead strategic
overarching partnerships
and projects which deliver
our third objective to build
sustainable communities
which are engaged and
shaping their environment
and supporting sustainable
businesses and tourism –
towards a sustainable future.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
• At least one new hub or
gateway delivered during the
year incorporating the shared
identity
• Deliver £1m worth of projects in
accordance with the priorities in
the SDNPA IBP by 2021
• Number of Whole Estate Plans
Endorsed
• The number of people booking
on South Downs Discover
England Fund experiences
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
3
KEY PRIORITY WE WILL:
Our services
Make correct and high-
quality decisions on
development management
proposals
• Deliver a robust and well-performing
development management service
• Work with host authorities to improve the quality
of their decision making and performance
Improve performance
reporting and project
management
• Provide improved performance reporting on the
SDNPA website
• Embed the revised project management process
across the SDNPA
• Introduce new project reporting for Members
• Pilot use of geospatial database
Make improvements to the
SDNPA website
• Review and implement relevant recommendations
from Citizens Panel focus group work
KEY PRIORITY WE WILL:
Our organisation
Support the South Downs
National Park Trust to deliver
£½ million of funding for
projects across the National
Park
• Provide communications support including one
public fundraising campaign
• Work with partners to develop attractive projects
for external funding
Drive efficiencies in new
contracts
• Seek continuous improvement within contracts
and on the renewal of term contracts, reducing
costs and/or enhancing service provision
Keep accommodation
outside of the South Downs
Centre under review in order
to meet changing business
needs in the longer term
• Continue to review opportunities to secure
suitable long-term accommodation for our Area
Offices that meets the aspirations of the Authority
KEY PRIORITY WE WILL:
Our people
Foster a culture where our
people are empowered and
supported to deliver to their
potential
• Review and implement recommendations from
the staff survey
Organisational priorities
We will develop strategies,
support or lead strategic
overarching partnerships
and projects which deliver
our fourth objective to be
a confident and secure
organisation exercising
effective influence delivering
shared outcomes through
excellent customer service,
providing value for money
and generating income to
support our work.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
• % of planning applications
by type dealt with in a timely
manner:
a) major applications
determined within 13 weeks
b) minor applications
determined within 8 weeks
c) other applications
determined within 8 weeks
• % contractors satisfied with
SDNPA as a client
• % contractors fulfilling their
obligations as set out in their
tender to quality, time and
budget
• % SDNPA-led projects delivered
to programme
A CONFIDENT, SECURE AND RESPECTED
ORGANISATION
4
HOW WE DELIVER OUR CORPORATE OBJECTIVES
Sustainable
communities
Duty
Understanding and enjoyment
Purpose 2
Conserve and enhance
A Thriving Living Landscape
People Connected to Places
Towards a
Sustainable Future
Purpose 1
Wildlife
Ecosystems services, climate change adaptation
Develop clear strategy and focus on work of the highest strategic impact.
Act as a centre for excellence, innovation and piloting new approaches in:
– landscape-scale management and restoration;
– spatial planning policy and delivery in a National Park; and,
– practical application of ecosystems services.
Influence national, regional and local policy and practice to support delivery of the shared vision
for the South Downs National Park.
Develop and share knowledge through sound robust research and evidence based policy.
Develop projects and partnerships to deliver the shared vision for the South Downs National Park.
Promote opportunities for awareness, learning and engagement which promote positive
behaviour change.
Champion sustainable access to the National Park.
Channel inward investment to priority areas and issues.
Natural
beauty of the
landscape
Cultural
Heritage
High quality
sustainable
access
Volunteering
learning,
information
and events
Sustainable
Economic
Development
and Tourism
OUR SHARED VISION
SHARED VISION – 50 YEARS
Partnership Managment Plan
South Downs Local Plan
SDNPA Corporate Plan
SDNPA directorate and teams plans
Individual objectives
National Park Purposes and Duty
South Downs National Park Vision
South Downs National Park Special Qualities
STRATEGY 5–15 YEARS
ACTIVITY – 1 YEAR
South Downs National Park Authority
South Downs Centre
North Street
Midhurst
West Sussex
GU29 9DH
01730 814810
