Key Documents
There are numerous key documents being developed by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), we also have some key reference documents – some of which are shown below.
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- Partnership Management Plan
The Partnership Management Plan sets out the overarching five-year strategy for the management of the South Downs National Park. It is a plan that sets out to shape the future of your South Downs National Park.
It brings together and coordinates the aspirations of many different partners who help contribute towards the purposes for which it was designated.
The Plan is for the National Park as a whole and sets out the seven shared ambitions of many different partners for the next five years, including the work of the National Park Authority.
Find out more about the 2026 – 2031 Partnership Management Plan.
- State of the Park Report
The 2024 State of the Park Report is here.
A summary can be seen here:
Follow this link to view in full.
- People and Nature Network (PANN)
Formally called the Green Infrastructure Framework, the People And Nature Network (PANN), will help the South Downs National Park Authority and its partners ensure nature is able to function effectively so that all action is coordinated and contributes to a strategic approach.
The updated document, called People And Nature Network: Green Infrastructure in the South Downs and wider South East was launched in August 2020.
- South Downs Local Plan
The South Downs Local Plan covers the entire National Park.
It follows extensive public consultation with local communities and detailed scrutiny and examination by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate, which found the policies to be sound subject to a number of modifications.
The Local Plan has been informed by a range of factors relating to the special qualities of the National Park, including landscape character, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the National Park, Neighbourhood Plans, local housing and economic needs and the impact of climate change.
- Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
In March 2020, the South Downs National Park Authority formally adopted a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan with a goal of becoming a ‘Net-Zero’ organisation by 2040.
You can read the principal documents below:
In addition to this, the SDNPA commissioned Small World Consulting to produce an assessment and recommendations on greenhouse gas emissions in the South Downs National Park.
The assessment and recommendations can be read here.
- Corporate Plan
The Corporate Plan for the South Downs National Park Authority shows how the organisation sets its own priorities and delivers the outcomes in the Partnership Management Plan.
The long-term ambitions of the Partnership Management Plan (PMP) and the Local Plan are very broad – it is therefore essential that we focus on those areas where we know we can make the most impact against the priorities in the PMP, the Public Affairs Strategy and Government’s Glover response.
The Corporate Plan for 2026-31 is set out below:
Progress against the priorities in the Corporate Plan are reported annually in our Annual Review.
- Annual Review
The Annual Review records how we have progressed over the year towards the priorities set out in the Corporate Plan.
- Partnership Management Plan
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- Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Climate Change is shaping up to be one of the main causes of environmental change for the National Park in the future. Its impacts on the landscape are likely to be significant and profound – though there are many potential opportunities over the longer term. It is necessary for the National Park Authority to plan ahead in relation to potential climate change impacts. A Climate Change Adaptation Plan is the best way to achieve this.
- Read the SDNPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan online
- Print-ready version of the SDNPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- Cycling and Walking Strategy
The Cycling and Walking Strategy 2017-2024 sets out our aim and direction for the future of cycling and walking activity and supporting infrastructure in the National Park.
Our ambition is for the South Downs National Park to be home to a network of largely traffic free routes providing opportunities for a range of users of differing abilities and ages, who are using the network for recreation and daily utility journeys.
- Biodiversity Duty Statement
This Biodiversity Duty Statement explains how the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has complied with – and demonstrated leadership in delivering – the strengthened biodiversity duty introduced by the Environment Act 2021.
As England’s newest National Park Authority, SDNPA has embedded biodiversity recovery at the heart of its statutory purposes, decision making and delivery. The Authority has moved beyond minimum compliance by using its statutory powers, convening role and partnerships to secure measurable, long term outcomes for nature at landscape scale.
Read the Biodiversity Duty Statement here.
- Local Code of Corporate Governance
- Statement of Accounts
The statement of accounts is the statutory summary of our financial affairs for the financial year and is prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom. The purpose of our statement of accounts is to give clear information on our overall finances.
Financial Year 2025/26
- Unaudited Statement of Accounts 2025/26
- Public Inspection Notice 2025/26
- Annual Governance Statement 2025/26
Financial Year 2024/25
- Statement of Accounts 2024/25
- Notice of the Conclusion of the Audit of Accounts 2024/25
- Annual Governance Statement 2024/25
- Annual Auditors Report 2024/25
Financial Year 2023/24
- Statement of Accounts 2023/24
- Notice of the Conclusion of the Audit of the Accounts 2023/24
- Audit Certificate 2023/24
- Annual Governance Statement 2023/24
- Annual Auditors Report 2023/24
Financial Year 2022/23
- Statement of Accounts 2022/23
- Notice of the Conclusion of the Audit of Accounts 2022/23
- Annual Governance Statement 2022/23
Financial Year 2021/22
Financial Years 2010/11 – 2020/21
- Statement of Accounts 2020/21
- Statement of Accounts 2019/20
- Statement of Accounts 2018/19
- Statement of Accounts 2017/18
- Statement of Accounts 2016/17
- Statement of Accounts 2015/16
- Statement of Accounts 2014/15
- Statement of Accounts 2013/14
- Statement of Accounts 2012/13
- Statement of Accounts 2011/12
- Statement of Accounts 2010/11
- Annual Governance Statement 2020/21
- Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 (Addendum)
- Annual Governance Statement 2019/20
- Annual Governance Statement 2018/19
- Annual Governance Statement 2017/18
- Annual Governance Statement 2016/17
- Annual Governance Statement 2015/16
- Financial Procedures and Regulations
- Peer Review
- Research
- South Downs Economic Profile
- Water in the Park Report (2025)
- South Downs Visitor Accommodation Review (2025)
- South Downs National Park Visitor Survey 2021 (This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected] . Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.)
- South Downs National Park Visitor Survey 2012
- South Downs National Park Local Economy Economic Indicators 2011
- Strategies
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- Cycling and Walking Strategy 2017-2024
- Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2025
- Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2025 (summary)
- Natural Flood Management Measures: a practical guide for farmers and landowners of the Solent and South Downs
- Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2015-2020
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan