The South Downs National Park Authority faced the significant challenge of reviewing its Local Plan under a tight timeline. With a Regulation 18 consultation scheduled for January 2025 following Planning Committee sign-off in November 2024 and full National Park Authority approval in December 2024, the Authority required expert support to stay on track.
Support for South Downs National Park Local Plan Review

Objectives
- Develop Proposed Site Allocations: Identify and refine site allocations for inclusion in the draft Local Plan.
- Draft Key Supporting Evidence: Prepare comprehensive evidence to underpin the Local Plan and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Land Availability Assessment: Support the delivery of a robust Land Availability Assessment (LAA) to inform decision-making.
- Adhere to Timetable: Enable the Authority to meet its ambitious timeline for the Local Plan review process.

Challenges
- Compressed Timeline: The need to complete all preparatory work for the Regulation 18 consultation within a few months.
- Complexity of Evidence Requirements: Ensuring that all evidence documents met high standards of rigor and relevance.
- Dynamic Scope: The project’s scope evolved during the engagement, requiring adaptability and additional support.
Our Approach
- Collaborative Partnership: We worked closely with the South Downs National Park Authority to align our efforts with their objectives, becoming a trusted advisor throughout the process.
- Technical Expertise: Delivered detailed site allocation proposals and evidence-based recommendations that supported strategic decision-making.
- Flexibility: Adapted to an expanded project scope, extending our support from 6 to 8 months to ensure all requirements were met.
- Timely Delivery: Maintained a proactive approach to project management, ensuring all deliverables were completed on schedule.
Key Outcomes
- Successful Publication of Supporting Evidence: All required supporting evidence was completed and published on time, meeting the rigorous demands of the Local Plan process.
- Approval at Committee Stage: The Local Plan passed the Planning Committee stage and remained on track for submission to the National Park Authority on 10th December 2024.
- Extended Engagement: The extension of our commission underscored the Authority’s trust in our expertise and our ability to deliver results.
Impact
Our involvement ensured the South Downs National Park Authority adhered to its challenging timetable, maintaining momentum in the Local Plan review process.
This not only safeguarded the integrity of the timeline but also strengthened the evidence base and strategic clarity of the Local Plan, setting a solid foundation for its future implementation.
The success of this project highlights the value of expert, flexible support in navigating complex planning challenges. By acting as a trusted advisor, we enabled the South Downs National Park Authority to meet its objectives, deliver a robust Local Plan, and remain on schedule. This partnership exemplifies the critical role of tailored expertise in achieving planning excellence.
Can we do the same for you?
Contact the CJ Founds Associates team and see how we can help with your project.