The new South Downs Local Plan (Proposed Submission) was published for public consultation on 12 May 2026 under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
This was the final stage of public consultation before the Plan is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination. At this stage, comments were invited on the Plan’s soundness and legal compliance.
The consultation ran for six weeks from Tuesday 12 May 2026 to 23.59 on Tuesday 23 June 2026 and is now closed.
All duly received representations will be reviewed and submitted alongside the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate.
Findon Parish Council Reg 19 response
Deborah Urquhart Reg 19 response
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) published the South Downs Local Availability Assessment (LAA) on 09 December 2025. The LAA is an essential part of the evidence base for the South Downs Local Plan Review which is anticipated for public consultation in May 2026 prior to submission for examination later that year.
The LAA has assessed the suitability, availability and achievability of identified sites across the South Downs National Park. The LAA does not determine whether a site should be allocated for future development. Instead, the role of the LAA is to provide information on a range of sites to help identify sites for further consideration in the South Downs Local Plan Review. Subject to further technical work, it is then for the South Downs Local Plan Review - or any future Neighbourhood Development Plans - to determine which sites should be allocated for future development.
The LAA - and its appendices and an interactive map - is available on the SDNPA's website here: