Chichester Local Plan moves to the next
stage following Inspectors' report
Chichester District Council has received the
Planning Inspectors’ final report for the Chichester Local Plan
2021–2039, marking a significant milestone in the plan’s progress.
The report confirms that the Government’s Planning Inspectorate
consider the plan, with their recommended main modifications, to be
sound, legally compliant, and ready to be considered for adoption
by district councillors. The full report can be viewed at: The Local Plan examination - latest news -
Chichester District Council
This milestone marks the end of the examination process, which
started in May last year when the plan was submitted for
examination. The examination process assesses whether the plan
meets legal requirements and national policy, and whether it has
been positively prepared, justified, and effective. It also
considers how well the council has worked with neighbouring
authorities and statutory bodies.
As part of the examination, two Planning Inspectors appointed by
the Planning Inspectorate have reviewed the submitted plan,
supporting evidence, and feedback from the public consultations
that were carried out prior to submission. Following this, the
Inspectors led a number of public hearings before identifying a
series of ‘main modifications’ needed to make the plan ‘sound’
before it could be considered for adoption. In April this year, the
council consulted on these modifications and sent all of the
comments received to the Inspectors for consideration.
“I am really pleased that the Planning Inspectors have finished
examining our Local Plan and returned their final report for
councillors to consider,” says Cllr Bill Brisbane, Cabinet Member
for Planning at Chichester District Council.
“Preparing a Local Plan is a complex and lengthy process, and I
would like to thank everyone who has been involved in moving this
critical piece of work to such an important stage. This includes
everyone who has shared their views in the public consultations
that we carried out in the lead up to, and throughout, the
examination process — your input has played an important role in
shaping the plan.”
The next stage will be for the council’s Full Council to consider
the Inspectors’ report, with its recommended main modifications, at
a meeting on Tuesday 19 August 2025. During this meeting,
councillors will decide whether to formally adopt the plan.
The Local Plan identifies housing requirements, development areas
for economic growth and locations for new homes in the Chichester
plan area over the next 14 years. The Local Plan also has a raft of
policies relating to a range of policy areas, including climate
change and the natural environment. There is a separate plan for
the part of the district located within the National Park and this
is produced by the South Downs National Park Authority.
People can find more information about the Chichester Local Plan,
including the council’s Statement of Consultation — which
summarises the work that has been done to prepare the plan — at: www.chichester.gov.uk/localplan.
Links to recordings of all of the examination hearings can be found
at: www.chichester.gov.uk/localplanexamination
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