Last chance to speak up on Arun blueprint

Six weeks of consultation on the council’s local plan begin at the end of this month, following years of debate and, frequently controversy, particularly over where large-scale housing sites should go.

This final consultation comes two years after Arun sent an earlier draft out for comments, which were then used to shape the latest version. It sets out how and where jobs, housing, local services, community facilities and transport improvements can be provided to benefit present and future generations, and will also be used to guide day-to-day planning decisions.

From Thursday, October 30, the revised local plan will be published for a six-week consultation period, after which it will be sent to the Government for an examination in public by an independent planning inspector. Comments must be received by Arun by 5pm on December 11, but should not be submitted before October 30.

The plan includes all of Arun district, except for land inside the boundary of the South Downs National Park Authority.

Councillor Ricky Bower, Arun cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said: “The Arun local plan sets out the vision for Arun to 2031 and beyond. It is the culmination of extensive study and participation and I am grateful to all those individuals and organisations that have helped in its preparation.

“This is the final opportunity for representations to be made on the local plan prior to submission to Government. I hope everybody will take the opportunity to read the plan and its sustainability appraisal and provide comments that support or can help to improve the plan.”

The plan can be viewed on Arun’s website at www.arun.gov.uk/LocalPlan and is also available for inspection at Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis Town Hall and all libraries within Arun district, as well as parish councils with offices open to the public.

Comments can be submitted electronically on the dedicated website: http://arun.objective.co.uk/portal or by email using the representation template which is available online at www.arun.gov.uk/LocalPlan or by post, using the representation form which is available at the Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton, and Bognor Regis Town Hall, to be sent to Planning Policy and Conservation, Arun District Council, Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5LF.