Chichester Harbour Conservancy is calling for a stronger voice to protect the Chichester Harbour National Landscape in the planning system.
Chichester Harbour National Landscape is under significant pressure from development. In the last 2 years more than 750 dwellings have been approved on the boundary of the National Landscape and there is a target for Havant Borough Council and Chichester District Council to build a total of 31,200 new houses by 2040.
Chichester Harbour Conservancy is responsible for managing the National Landscape, and we comment on new planning applications (approximately 300 each year). But National Landscape authorities like us are NOT statutory consultees in the planning system, which means there is no legal requirement for us to be consulted or for our comments to be taken into account.
Call for a change in law
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is at the bill committee stage in Parliament. Jess Fuller-Brown, MP for Chichester, has tabled an amendment to the bill seeking to make National Landscapes statutory consultees on planning applications.
Richard Austin, Director of the Chichester Harbour National Landscape said:
“National Landscapes like Chichester Harbour are vitally important for the UK; as well as being designated areas of beauty they protect nature, feed the nation and provide a valuable environment for health and wellbeing. But despite having the highest protection in UK law, National Landscape authorities need to carry greater weight in the planning system.
“We need a stronger voice to protect this special place and we fully support the amendment that seeks to give all National Landscapes statutory consultee status.”
Chichester Harbour is one of the most important sites for wildlife in the UK. But it is under mounting pressures from development, climate change, population rise, sea-level rise, poor water quality and more. We hope that the proposed amendment to Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be accepted, giving National Landscapes like us a stronger voice in the planning system to protect this precious place.