Our Work
Our People
Our Communities
Planning Applications
Planning Policy
Landscape
Community Infrastructure Levy & Section 106
Planning News & Major Applications
Frequently asked questions and guidance on making comments on the new South Downs Local Plan.
The current South Downs Local Plan is an award-winning local plan adopted in 2019 and sets out the planning policies and allocations (sites identified for development) for the South Downs National Park. Local Plans are required by law to be reviewed every five years and we need to ensure the Local Plan addresses important issues including nature recovery, climate change and supporting local communities to thrive.
The new draft Local Plan, called the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan, prior to it submitted for examination by the Authority, has been prepared in the context of significant planning reforms under the previous and existing Government,.
No final decisions have been made yet. There are still some formal stages to go through, but it’s hoped the new South Downs Local Plan can be adopted in 2027. The new Local Plan will then replace the 2019 South Downs Local Plan, and form part of the development plan alongside neighbourhood development plans and minerals and waste plans.
Planning powers have been given to National Park Authorities for a reason. Since the 1940s, it has been clear that National Parks are special places that need special treatment via the planning system. This Local Plan continues that legacy, and that of the award-winning first Local Plan, ensuring that this National Park remains a source of inspiration and wellbeing for generations to come.
This Local Plan is built around a bold and inspiring vision of a vibrant place and a climate-resilient landscape where nature thrives, wildlife flourishes, clean water flows, and starry skies shine above. It’s a place shaped by stories old and new, where people feel connected, inspired, and at home.
Our focus is on placemaking, rather than merely “planning” in its traditional sense. We want to create special places inspired by this nationally important landscape, with well-designed homes, buildings and spaces for local communities and visitors, with more affordable homes and a thriving rural economy that supports climate action.
The goal is to grow sustainably and regeneratively within the context and capacity of the landscape – so that both people and nature can flourish together.
The South Downs National Park is Britain’s most populated National Park with over 113,000 residents, living in one of the four towns and smaller villages and settlements. It’s important we plan for the future and continued vitality of these towns and villages, supporting local facilities and ensuring there are suitable homes, particularly affordable homes for local communities. The National Park also hosts nearly 6,000 businesses. With appropriate, sustainable growth comes significant wider benefits for people, including health and wellbeing, habitat creation for wildlife, community infrastructure, jobs and climate action.
Evidence gathering and technical studies
The process of preparing a new Local Plan started in 2022 and a series of important evidence studies have been undertaken, including a “call for sites”, Land Availability Assessment and Housing and Economic Needs Assessment. Other key evidence base studies include: Transport, Renewable Energy, Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments, Local Green Space and Settlement Facilities Assessment.
We have also undertaken the following regulatory assessments: Habitats Regulations Assessment; and Integrated Impact Assessment (incorporating Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Health Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment).
Early engagement
Early engagement with town and parish councils began in February 2023, including encouraging them to prepare ‘parish priorities statements’ to set out their own local evidence and aspirations for their areas. We also undertook an ‘early participation’ public engagement on the scope of the new Local Plan from June to September 2024.
Regulation 18 consultation
The first formal consultation (Regulation 18) took place between January and March 2025. It sought feedback on draft policies and allocations and was guided by the bespoke Community Involvement Plan.
More than 1,900 individuals and organisations responded, submitting over 3,700 comments. The feedback is available to view on the consultation portal at https://sdnpalocalplanreview.commonplace.is/ or by reading the Regulation 18 Consultation Report.
Regulation 19 consultation
Feedback from the Regulation 18 consultation informed preparation of the Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19), which was published for consultation from 12 May to the 23 June 2026.
The consultation version of the plan can be viewed at https://southdowns-consult.objective.co.uk.
The Proposed Submission Local Plan, supporting documents, including the Policies Map, can be downloaded from here
At this stage, consultation responses will also be published online, with personal information removed where required.
Submission for examination
Subject to the Authority’s decision in December, the Local Plan is expected to be submitted for examination before the end of 2026.
All Regulation 19 consultation responses will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, together with a summary of the main issues raised and the Authority’s response.
Independent examination
The Planning Inspectorate is expecting a high number of Local Plan submissions before the December deadline, so there may be some delay before examinations begin.
We currently expect confirmation of the appointed Inspector(s) and an indicative timetable in January 2027. The Inspector will decide which matters are examined and who will be invited to participate in hearing sessions.
If modifications to the new Local Plan are recommended by the Inspector, there will be a further six-week public consultation on those changes.
Under planning laws, this is a completely new South Downs Local Plan and will replace the 2019 Local Plan in its entirety upon its adoption.
However, there are many elements of the award-winning South Downs Local Plan that remain relevant and fit for the future of the National Park. These include:
There are 58 thematic strategic policies covering a range of matters and set out the spatial strategy for development and provision for appropriate growth within a landscape-led context. These include:
Our evidence studies indicate the appropriate figure for housing need in the National Park is 323 homes per year (or 6,137 new homes between 2024 and 2042). This is based on analysis of population growth trends and maintaining the economically active population.
Our focus, as it always has been, will be to ensure the right development in the right place within the context and capacity of the landscape and ensuring that with sustainable growth comes the wider benefits of affordable housing, habitat creation, community infrastructure, thriving rural economies and climate action.
No final decisions have been made yet.
The proposed allocations in the new Local Plan have been informed by a suite of evidence base studies and consultation with local communities.
The Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) includes 80 allocations contributing to housing supply and spread across the towns and villages of the National Park.
These will go before public consultation and then examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
A six-week public consultation will begin in May and will be an opportunity to comment on the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) new Local Plan. Guidance will be provided on responding to the consultation. You can register to receive updates and notification of the consultation by signing up to receive planning news at or providing contact details to [email protected].
We will log and summarise the main issues arising from the representations on the Proposed Submission Local Plan.
Providing that no substantial issues are raised regarding soundness and legal compliance of the Local Plan, it will be submitted for examination alongside any representations received, any proposed modifications and the suite of supporting documents.
The South Downs National Park’s Partnership Management Plan 2026-2031 sets what the National Park Authority, and partners across the National Park, will deliver together up to 2031. It includes an overarching Vision for 2060. The PMP is a statutory, five-year strategic documents required for all UK National Parks under the Environment Act 1995, outlining a shared vision for landscape management. The PMP contains a series of planning principles which guide delivery aspects of the PMP. These planning principles form the objectives of the new Local Plan to ensure there is a tangible and effective link between these two important Plans for the National Park.
The South Downs Local Plan is a spatial plan for development, such as housing, economic activity, and renewable energy, in the National Park. The National Park Authority is a Local Planning Authority and therefore has to produce a Local Plan under Town and Country Planning Laws. This Local Plan must align with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The Local Plan sets out where development should happen, what it should look like, and how it will contribute to the purposes of the National Park.
The Local Plan is an important means of delivering aspects of the Partnership Management Plan which is a material consideration in planning decisions.
