Planning Updates

An 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 the parish of Worldham. Application details: SDNP/19/03709/FUL  Change of use of Oakland Farm and associated land holdings from Agriculture and B8 (Open Storage) to mixed use Agriculture, B8 […]

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. […]

Iford Shoot Appeal Hearing 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 council, commercial shooting on the Downs near Lewes has continued over the last 10 years. Lewes District Council […]

Our Society has always supported the principle of development for housing on the former ICI brownfield industrial site (more recently called Syngenta) just outside the village of Fernhurst, north of Midhurst. Together with Fernhurst Parish Council we have successfully campaigned for a continuous path to connect this site with the main village. There are a number of […]

At the SDNPA Planning Committee meeting in March 2020. There was much criticism of this scheme from the members of the Planning Committee and it was unanimously rejected by them, despite planning officers having recommended approval. Our Society has previously asked the National Park not to take into consideration Whole Estate Plans (WEPs) when considering […]

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 […]

Back in August we alerted Society members and the public of the Highways England announcement of a further consultation on yet more alternative routes for the Arundel bypass. This consultation is still open until 24 October 2019. Click HERE to see the updated consultation document and a link to give your views. A number of […]

In preparation for a busy autumn season in planning and highways the Friends of the South Downs and the Campaign for National Parks undertook a review of critical planning & highways issues in the South Downs National Park. This included a visit to the possible routes for the proposed Highways England A27 by-pass. Click here […]

At the South Downs National Park’s planning committee meeting on 8th August, the Friends of the South Downs (South Downs Society) challenged the National Park in five key areas over a planning application for a large commercial and housing development North of Buckmore Farm, Beckham Lane, Petersfield consisting of a just under a 5,000sqm  business […]