We believe that most Southwick Residents do not want large scale developments in our surrounding fields. This fine arable land is enjoyed by many people whether walking their dogs or just themselves to get away from modern day pressures. An important step in protecting Southwick from major development is to have a Neighbourhood Plan. Other villages (locally and nationally) feel the same and have already done so, or are currently working on it.

A Neighbourhood Plan is a new and more meaningful way for communities to have a say on the future of the places where they live and work. The Localism Act that came into effect in April 2012, and for the first time enabled Parish Councils to write local planning policy documents (neighbourhood plans) that had the same statutory weight as policy from the Local Planning Authority.

The benefits of a Neighbourhood Plan, is that communities can use neighbourhood planning to:

• choose where new homes, shops and offices could be built
• have a real say what those new buildings should look like
• support planning permission for new buildings that fit with the Neighbourhood Plan criteria

A successful Neighbourhood Plan should involve the whole community, including residents, business owners, community organisations and landowners.

Area - The designated area has already been approved and includes the whole of Southwick. More details can be found here

Issues to Address - The strengths and positive features of the village. What we need to protect, and what we need to improve.

It should be noted that a Neighbourhood Plan is not a magic bullet. It will not stop all developments but does allow the community a say in what sort of development takes place and where. A plan will also have to be updated from time to time.

Southwick’s Neighbourhood Plan Progress Report : March 2018

Progress Update on Southwick’s Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Southwick’s Neighbourhood Development Plan is really beginning to take shape, After five months of very hard work, our plan is roughly a third of the way complete.

• In this respect, the Steering Group have delivered the following important stages of the plan:
• Scoping Research - which provides an array of factual material on topics such as education, employment, services, amenities and ecology.
• Housing Needs Survey - this shows the type and number of additional housing needed locally.
• Landscape Gap Surveys - required to help ensure Southwick retains its village identity.
• Site Survey Reports - although nothing has been decided yet, these reports will possibly help form the basis of sites being considered for future housing development in the village.

This level of progress so far on the plan has been considerably better than average. But we want to keep the momentum going and deliver the entire plan as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Now that the Steering Group have all the facts and figures needed to move forward, our next challenge is to commence a three week Consultation Period, followed by a series of public Consultation Events. We intend to begin this process from Monday 26th March.

As part of this process, you will be receiving a simple Questionnaire to complete. This will give you the opportunity to express exactly what you like about Southwick and the things that you would like to change. The Questionnaire is easy to complete and will be available in paper and electronic formats.

Please remember that the Neighbourhood Development Plan is not all about housing, although that is obviously an important element of the plan. The Neighbourhood Plan can also encompass issues such as traffic volumes, lack of medical facilities, cycle pathways and much much more.

So, please keep an eye out for the Questionnaire. It really is your chance to have your say.

Many thanks for reading.

Cllr John Eaton