In order to help manage the future of our area, Chichester District Council is preparing a plan within the Local Development Framework (LDF), which sets out its planning policies for the next 20 years. Future plans will have to address the need for housing, employment, community facilities and accompanying infrastructure such as schools, health centres, roads and public transport while ensuring the natural and built environment is not compromised.

The plan, which will shape where large scale development will be located is called the Core Strategy. Some further plans are already set nationally and regionally, which direct the number of new homes to be built. The local community can influence how the district will look through their involvement in the Core Strategy.

This document has been produced to inform the emerging Core Strategy, however it is not a formal stage, it has been prepared in order to seek your views on key issues for planning in the District.

In drawing up this document the Council has worked closely with partner organisations, local communities and agencies through the Local Strategic Partnership. This document is in line with the Sustainable Community Strategy and is in part the land use element of that strategy.

One of the issues on which we ask you for comments, is where large scale development should be located. This document outlines a potential strategy and possible locations for accommodating the increased housing demands in the District. The Council does not have a preferred location or strategy in mind; your comments will feed into that decision.

It is important that we work together to keep Chichester District special and to meet the needs of those of us who live and work here. We look forward to receiving your views, before the Council takes its decision.

Councillor Myles Cullen