'˜Crucial' stage of Petworth Neighbourhood Plan as new consultation begins

The crucial next stage of the plan begins on March 31 at The Leconfield Hall where the draft proposals will be on display from 10am-9pm.

It will then be available in the town for a six week consultation period.

Reporting on the consultation chairman of Petworth Town Council Chris Kemp told fellow councillors: “This is majorly important. By the time we have finished the plan process we will have spent more than £60,000 which is a huge sum of money, but this is incredibly important for Petworth”

The draft plan consolidates the findings from last year’s public consultation when the majority of residents (57 per cent) voted for ‘Housing Option 1’ which included sites next to Petworth Primary School and to the south of the town.

Since that time, over 30 volunteers have studied the results and gathered further evidence to support the development of the document.

“I cannot emphasise enough,” said Mr Kemp, “that everyone needs to get themselves to speed with the plan. Fliers about the consultation are going to all the houses in the town and a questionnaire will be available to fill in. I want to make sure we have made every effect to make sure everyone knows about it.”

Douglas Cooper, chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan steering group said: “Since the last round of public consultation, we have been working hard to develop the draft plan that includes policies relating to housing development as well as strategies to create the services, infrastructure and employment opportunities to support a growing community. We have engaged closely with our colleagues from the South Downs National Park Authority and the relevant landowners to establish an agreed strategy for the design and mix of new housing and this will be central to the display at the Leconfield Hall. We urge everyone to come along – your feedback is vital.”

After the event on March 31, parishioners will have six weeks from April 3 to provide their feedback by completing the questionnaire or taking part in an online survey.

The draft plan will then be submitted for review by an independent, external planning examiner before being presented at a public referendum in the spring of 2018.

Following a successful public referendum, the plan becomes part of planning law and will sit alongside national and local planning legislation.

South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has asked Petworth to provide 150 new homes over the next fifteen years.

A total of 32 sites were initially identified for potential housing development including those promoted by the SDNPA.

They were then assessed by the Petworth Neighbourhood Planning Group against a series of site suitability criteria to create the final three options that were presented for public consultation during June and July 2016.