Submission Draft Worthing Local Plan Consultation (January 2021)

Introduction

Worthing Borough Council recognises the importance of having an up to date Local Plan in place that can enable 'local decision making' and guide development that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient. After a number of years of preparation the Council is publishing its final version of the Plan for comment before it is submitted for independent Examination.

The Council appreciates that these are difficult times to undertake this consultation. However, Government advice is clear that Council's should continue to progress their Local Plans and, to support this aim, changes to consultation regulations have been made at the national level to ensure that this can happen. Despite this, the Council wants to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to be involved at this stage. To achieve this and to help mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 restrictions the consultation period has been extended from 6 to 8 weeks. This consultation will run from Tuesday 26th January until 5pm Tuesday 23rd March 2021. Any responses received after this date will not be accepted.

So, what has been done so far ...

The plan has already been through two rounds of public consultation:

Firstly in 2016 - the 'Issues and Options - 'Your Town - Your Future' (identified key issues and asked for views on how they should be addressed)
Secondly in Oct 2018 Second 'Draft Local Plan' - (Preferred Options)

The comments submitted at these two consultations have been considered and have helped to shape the Plan. The Plan has also been informed by a comprehensive evidence base and, using this information, Worthing Borough Council considers that the Local Plan that is now published for comment is 'sound' and establishes a clear and robust strategy for the Borough.

What are the key outcomes for the new Local Plan?

The Local Plan will be a key document in shaping the future of the borough over a 15 year period as it provides the strategy for growth, setting out what development will take place and where. When adopted, the new Plan will replace the borough's existing local planning policies and will be an important consideration in deciding planning applications.

The Plan builds on national guidance to provide for more specific local policies for Worthing to create a high quality environment. It has been a very difficult task to balance all the identified needs of Worthing's communities with the scarcity of land that we have within the borough. Some of the key elements of the new Plan are to:

plan positively for growth and contribute to sustainable development
balance development alongside protecting jobs, community facilities and valued open spaces
embed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
establish: 3 Strategic Policies; 6 Spatial Policies; and 24 Development Management policies
allocate 15 sites for development (6 on edge of town and 9 redevelopment sites within the existing built up area).

“The Local Plan is incredibly important, as it helps us work towards delivering a thriving and stronger town. It is therefore very important to us that we hear your views as this is the final statutory stage to make representations.”
Cllr Kevin Jenkins, Executive Member for Regeneration

So, what stage is this?

This is the 'Regulation 19' stage and it is the formal stage of the consultation process, prior to submission to the Secretary of State for Examination. Within a specific remit, this 'Publication' stage provides all interested stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on the policy content of the Council's Plan. At this stage comments should only relate to whether you consider the Plan complies with legal requirements, including the duty to cooperate, and whether the document is sound. For further details please read our:

Submission Draft Consultation Guidance Note (239KB)

How to comment

You can submit your comments:

by using our online eform:

Comment on the Submission Draft Local Plan

or our paper form:

or by email:

planning.policy@adur-worthing.gov.uk

or in writing:

Adur & Worthing Councils,
Planning Policy,
Worthing Town Hall,
Chapel Road,
Worthing,
West Sussex,
BN11 1HA

All representations received within the statutory consultation period will be submitted to the Secretary of State, who will appoint an Inspector to carry out an independent examination of the Local Plan and its evidence base. Representations cannot be made anonymously. Further information about Data Protection Rights in line with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018 is set out on our Planning Policy - Privacy Notice.

Consultation documents:

All key documents relating to this stage of the Local Plan preparation are linked below. At this stage, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Council is unable to place hard copies of the documents on deposit in the usual locations but this will be actioned at such time restrictions are eased. In certain circumstances, the Council will be happy to provide hard copies of the Local Plan to specific groups, particularly those with limited internet access.

Submission Draft Worthing Local Plan (SDWLP) - Jan 2021 (complete document) (15,694KB)

Supporting documents

A number of these documents are still 'live' and being progressed. The finalised version will be provided as part of the Submission process.

Whole Plan Viability Assessment (WPVA)

Evidence base

Evidence base - Worthing background studies and information

Local Plan Route Mapper

The Route Mapper has been prepared by the Planning Advisory Service to assist Councils as they progress Local Plans. It provides advice on project planning and management which has helped in scoping and developing an approach to the Council's policies update which is appropriate and proportionate to Worthing. This work also provides a detailed assessment of conformity and soundness in line with the requirements of the NPPF.

Part 1 - Local Plan Review Assessment (not completed as a Local Plan review had commenced prior to the publication of this toolkit)
Part 2 - Local Plan Form and Content Checklist (1,647KB)
Part 3 - Local Plan Process Requirements Checklist (1,513KB)
Part 4 - Local Plan Soundness and Quality Assessment (2,027KB)

Statement of Community Involvement and Engagement Strategy

A 'call for sites'

Given the significant levels of housing need in the Borough the Council is always keen to know of any potential development sites. If you are aware of any sites that are at least 0.25 hectares in size OR capable of supporting at least 5 dwellings please let us know. In addition, if there are any sites that are currently included within the SHLAA for which you have updated information please also let us know. For more information (including 'Call for Sites' response forms) please see:

Strategic Housing Land Availability (SHLAA)

Keeping informed

All respondents at this, and previous stages, will be notified at appropriate times as the Plan progresses towards adoption. Interested parties who might not already be on the Council's Planning Policy database can register for updates by contacting the Planning Policy Team on: