Planning Update for Hampshire: Previously we have update residents on the planning applications associated with the major festival site at the Cheesefoot Head beauty spot near Winchester. Now another organisation has applied for planning permission in the South Downs National Park between Alton and Bordon: This planning application concerns a site off the B3004 in […]
Towards the end of 2019 the Government consulted on Changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations. This consultation set out the Government plans for the Future Homes Standard to be introduced by 2025. It is the first stage of a two-part consultation about proposed changes to the Building Regulations. Sounds pretty […]
Our volunteer District Officers (DOs), Liz Thomas and Jennifer Chibnall, spoke at the National Park planning committee meeting earlier in March 2020 against a proposal to build large glass and timber clad tower houses on this site which was allocated in the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan to meet local housing need. The National Park planning officers […]
Local Lewes councillors and the Friends of the South Downs (South Downs Society) called on the developer to reduce the over provision of parking for each property on the site but called for on street parking restrictions to prevent commuter parking causing problems for the new householders. There is already local concern as nearby is […]
Help need to keep a watch on planning applications! ……………………………….. Our Society were keen campaigners for the creation of the South Downs National Park which came into being in 10 years ago. The new National Park designation theoretically provides the highest planning protection. However, having this protection doesn’t mean to say our countryside is safe. […]
This information may be of interest to any member of the public, parish council or local organisation who are concerned about a current planning application in the South Downs National Park Authority area Despite the Covid-19 crisis the Government has decided that the planning system must still remain in operation and should be seen as […]
South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) let down the local communities? Iford Shoot Appeal Hearing: The long and drawn out saga of the battle to protect the South Downs by local communities against the expansion of commercial shooting on the Downs near Lewes took another turn last month. Despite previous planning action by the local […]
210 homes development given the go-ahead at the former Syngenta site, Henley Old Road, Fernhurst Our Society has always supported the principle of development for housing on the former ICI brownfield industrial site (more recently called Syngenta) site just outside the village of Fernhurst north of Midhurst. Along with Fernhurst Parish Council we have successfully […]
Countryside development up a narrow lane rejected at Selborne Road, Newton Valence, Alton At the SDNPA Planning Committee meeting in March 2020 National Park officers ignored their own planning policy and recommended approval! [Click HERE to see the Planning Officer report]. There was much criticism from the members of the Planning Committee. The planning officers […]
Despite Government policy changes the South Downs National Park uses the COVID-19 Emergency to remove democratic decision-making and public scrutiny! In March the National Park held their first and very successful Authority meeting using web casting and teleconferencing. This enabled the members of the National Park and the officers to continue as normal but without […]
The average household in the UK emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 every year from heating their home. The Government’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has identified the need to reduce emissions from the UK’s buildings – which made up 19% of the UK’s overall total emissions (2017 data). The government has already declared that we […]
Is the relaxation of Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) the right way forward to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile networks? Report by Friends of the South Downs Policy Officer, Victor Ient After some considerable research using my own telecommunications experience, updated by consulting engineers currently working in the mobile sector, I have submitted, […]
In November last year our East Sussex district officer team visited Swanborough Manor in East Sussex. We all agreed it was very interesting to look around and inside this unique historical building which started life in the 11thC as the grange to the nearby Cluniac (St Pancras) Priory in Lewes. But that wasn’t our main […]
Development have been underway for some time in the conservation area at Greatham near Pulborough in West Sussex. Last year the developer made a planning appeal against a refusal relating to the Granary in Greatham (West Sussex), adjacent to the Grade II Greatham Manor listed building. The Friends of the South Downs District Officer David […]
A new planning application has been submitted to increase the number of festival goers. The Friends of the South Downs will be submitting their comments soon but for now this post is to advise you on how to make your comments to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). The current closing date for responses […]
