1. Planning Update for Wealden LSP
Thursday 17th November 2011
Roy Little
Planning Link Officer – Eastern Area
South Downs National Park Authority

2. 1st April 2011 -responsible for all planning decisions
On 1st April the SDNPA became the sole planning authority for the South Downs National Park:
-responsible for all planning decisions
-responsible for all planning policy
-responsible for LDFs, enforcement, minerals and waste

3. Role of the South Downs National Park
Statutory Purposes:
Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area
Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the park’s special qualities by the public
Authority Duty:
To seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the communities within the National Park

4. Statistics
Up to 4,000 planning applications a year – other NPAs about 6,000 in total.
SDNPA - 8th largest LPA in 2008/9
Only 61 ‘majors applications in 2008/9
Includes 15 LPAs in SDNP, (3 Counties, 1 Unitary, and 11 Districts).

5. Delegation
The SDNPA is working in partnership with all 15 Local Planning Authorities to provide planning services for the National Park from 1st April ‘delegation’
Delegation is an Agency Agreement under Section 101 of the 1972 Local Government Act.
SDNPA will pay LPAs for the planning services you each provide

6. Delegation
Agreement to agree’ – currently provides a legal basis for LPAs to provide planning service for SDNPA from 1/4/11 to 31/3/12
Section 101 Agreements now largely completed with all 15 LPAs –to be in place for implementation from 1st April 2012.

7. Section101 Agreements - progress so far
Already signed – 13 LPAs
Nearly there and good progress - 2 LPAs,
Still negotiating – All now complete
The future
Not continuing after 1/4/12 – Arun DC, Wealden DC and Eastbourne BC.

8. Duration and Review of S101 Agreements
Three year agreement
Rolling 12 month notice to quit (either party)
Review at least annually
Performance framework

9. How does it work?
All applications are ‘processed’ through the current planning administration systems of each of the 15 LA’s.
Validation
Registration
Consultation and Publicity
Key documents and correspondence ‘badged’ with joint SDNPA/WSCC branding
SDNPA applications are identified (weekly lists etc.)

10. Who Does What : Significance Definition of ‘Significance’
Most applications (about 97%) continue to be LPA processed and determined under agency agreements.
SDNPA only determines applications of ‘significance’ to the SDNP
Definition of ‘Significance’
Major / Minor split
Minors (less than 10 dwellings, < 1000 sq.. m commercial floorspace or sites less than 0.5 Ha) most likely to be delegated to the LPAs.
Majors (10 dwellings, 1000 sq. m commercial floorspace or sites of 0.5 Ha or more) likely to be for NPA determination, but:

11. Minor Development which might be significant
3 or more dwellings on the edge of a small village or settlement
Some tourism, leisure and visitor accommodation schemes
Certain energy (including renewable energy) schemes outside existing settlements and/or on/close to heritage assets
Smaller scale infrastructure projects outside existing settlements
Proposals to alter the operation of some minerals and waste facilities
Telecommunication proposals with visual impacts on SDNP
Some proposals for lighting outside existing settlements
Smaller scale development which may have a cumulative adverse impact on the SDNP.

12. Major Developments not likely to be Significant
Major Residential schemes (10 – 29 dwellings) that are proposed within existing towns and that are considered to have less significance for National Park purposes.
Major commercial schemes (1,000 – 2,999 square metres floor space) that are proposed within existing commercial centres within towns and some smaller settlements and that are considered to have less significance for National Park purposes.

13. Call-in Procedures
“Significant” applications identified as soon as possible by the Planning Link Officer for the relevant areas of the NP
Applications can be recovered at almost any stage if they are ‘significant’ – but not just because there’s a strong lobby
Applications on committee agendas will be identified before the meeting for call-in to apply, if officers recommendation is overturned by Committee (but power sparingly applied).

14. General Enforcement Protocol
The LA is always first port of call for all enforcement activity
Current enforcement resources continue to apply
No prior requirement to consult SDNPA on enforcement matters in all urgent cases, unless costs (high risks) are possible.
SDNPA input advice & influence through Link Officers
SDNPA has limited supplementary enforcement resources

15. Four Link Officers – Areas currently covered
Hampshire – Hants CC, Winchester and EHDC
Chichester – Chichester DC only
Rest of West Sussex – Horsham, Arun, Adur and Worthing and the whole of WSCC
East Sussex – Eastbourne, Wealden, Lewes, Brighton and Hove, Mid-Sussex and East Sussex CC.

16. Link Officer Role Interface between LA’s and SDNPA
Weekly Lists of applications
Pre-application discussion and enquiries.
Advice and guidance on SDNPA approach
Call-in advice and provisions
Enforcement liaison
Appeal procedure liaison
Routine point of contact on other emerging issues
Wider role to liaise with and attend meetings with Town and Parish Councils’, Conservation and other heritage groups, agents and other planning users groups.
Planning Link Officers are effectively planning ambassadors for the SDNPA to provide and promote the purposes of the National Park

17. Operating the service
About 40 applications “called-in” by the Summer this year appx – 150 a year?
Chichester DC (13 cases)
Winchester CC (8 cases)
East Hampshire DC (11 cases)
West Sussex CC (4 cases)
East Sussex CC (1 case).
BHCC – (2 cases)
Horsham (1 case)

18. Operating the service
‘Reverse’ directions or Authorisations – This direction gives authority to the LA to determine major applications on behalf or the SDNPA (if not significant).
Three recent examples
The Grange, Midhurst (replacement Leisure Centre) (CDC scheme within large town of Midhurst)
Livestock building for dairy cattle at Crouch Farm, Crouch Lane in Chichester (no likely impact on SDNP but exceeded 1,000m2)
A waste water improvement schemes at Lewes

19. Operating the service
‘Authorisations’ – majors can also subsequently be “called-in” by the SDNPA, if authorisation is made conditional & not addressed:-
Red Card – allows the LPA to deal with, but recommendation to Planning Committee is qualified in that:
If LA planning committee vote against officer recommendation, SDNPA has 3 days to consider if it wishes to recover the app; only 6 cases to date in Eastern Area and Chichester

20. Partnership working very well with WSCC.
Summary
Partnership working very well with WSCC.
Key Issues – Visual impact and impact on landscape – must always be addressed for SDNPA applications!
Will often influence or determine level of significance.
Primary duty is to protect this – always ask yourself if the proposal conserves or enhances the landscape?
Thank You – Any Questions? 20