‘Help protect areas from unscrupulous housing developers’

Residents across the Chichester district are being urged to make their views known on interim policies for planning and development.

Due to delays with Chichester District Council’s local plan review, it faces the prospect of moving to a higher housing target and its current policies being deemed out of date from mid-july.

Until a revised local plan can be adopted, the council is looking to agree an interim policy statement (IPS) to guide development in the local plan area, which excludes the South Downs National Park.

A consultation on the IPS for housing development runs until next Friday (July 10). Campaigners from Save Our Harbour Villages (SOHV) are urging people to comment.

Andrew Kerry-bedell, founder of SOHV, said: “Make no bones about it, this IPS is a technical document, but all parishes and residents in our district are encouraged to comment on it, either online or by email to CDC.

“In doing so you can help ensure the villages and areas you live in are protected from the types of unscrupulous and litigious housing developers that have recently plagued villages like Southbourne.”

He explained that the IPS is important to guide housing development and will also draw together adopted and emerging local plan policies to outline the types of residential development the council would support. It would also have a bearing on some of the council’s unique new policies such as the creation of new wildlife corridors.

To visit the consultation website visit chichester.oc2.uk/document/13

Comments and questions can also be emailed to planningpolicy@chichester.gov.uk