From a small office in Midhurst, the South Downs National Park Authority Establishment Team (pictured right), led by Dr Richard Shaw is paving the way for the National Park Authority to sit in April 2010 and take up its full powers in April 2011.
The Establishment Team produces regular newsletters which are available below. You'll find information in the newsletter about subscribing to a regular Establishment Team update. The Team have recently launched a website which report on all the latest developments regarding the transition to a National Park, visit www.southdowns.gov.uk
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18 August 2009: Hearing on six additional areas plus Green Ridge and Gote Farm
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A Hearing was held on 18 August at The Chatsworth Hotel in Steyne to consider objections and representations relating to the six additional areas proposed as part of the National Park at the end of March 2009.
Further details can be found at The Planning Inspectorate's website.
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6 October 2009: Deadline passes for applications for Membership of National Park Authority
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Environment Secretary Hillary Benn announced his intention to appoint up to ten members for the proposed South Downs National Park Authority, which will be established on 1 April 2010. There were up to ten vacancies and the deadline for receipt of applications was Tuesday 6 October 2009.
The Secretary of State appoints members to reflect the national importance placed on these bodies, in particular strategic issues such as responsibility for conservation, recreation, planning, access, land management and resources issues, as well as reflecting both local and national interests.
The appointments to the South Downs National Park Authority commence in April 2010 and are initially for up to four years with the option of re-appointment for a period of up to ten years.
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12 November 2009: National Park boundary confirmed
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Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced on 12 November 2009 the creation of a new National Park for the South Downs and confirmed its boundary.
The South Downs National Park will come into being on 31 March 2010.
Detailed maps can be found on Natural England’s website: www.naturalengland.gov.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/new/southdowns/default.aspx
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10 December 2009: National Park Authority membership size decided
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After a public consultation, Hilary Benn has opted for streamlined 27 seat National Park Authority, as Worthing and Adur district councils agreed to share a seat. The new authority will comprise:
-14 nominated councillors from the local authorities covering the park
-6 parish councillors from within the park
-7 national members appointed by the Secretary of State through an open recruitment process
The consultation on membership size did not provide a clear consensus, and so the Minister concluded that a smaller membership was likely to be more effective and less costly to administer. A summary of the consultation responses and a list of all respondents can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/south-downs-membership/index.htm
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16 July 2009: Consultation on membership of South Downs National Park Authority
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Defra has opened its consultation on the size and membership of the new South Downs National Park Authority. This 12 week consultation ends on Friday 9 October.
Defra proposes that the overall size of the Authority should be between 29 and 37 members. It also proposes that (depending on the overall size) there should be from 15 to 19 local authority members; from 8 to 10 national members; and from 6 to 8 parish members.
If you have particular views on the composition of the new Authority, you can find out how to take part in the consultation on the Defra website at:
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/south-downs-membership/
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8 June 2009: Interim Chief Executive appointed to launch new National Park Authority
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An Interim Chief Executive, Dr Richard Shaw, has been appointed by Defra. He is pictured (right) with Martin Beaton, The South Downs Joint Committee's South Downs Officer and Charles Anson, The South Downs Joint Committee Chairman. Dr Shaw will lead the process of establishing a National Park Authority for the South Downs.
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13 July 2009: Parish meetings underway
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The first of five parish meetings took place on Monday 13 July and Interim Chief Executive, Dr Richard Shaw spoke to parish council representatives at East Meon Village Hall in Hampshire.
You can find dates and minutes of the meetings and Dr Shaw's presentation at National Park Parish Meetings.
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Who will be advising the Interim Chief Executive?
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Dr Shaw will be advised on the structure and administration of the new Authority by a steering group, which has already been established by the Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This comprises representatives from Defra, local councils, The South Downs Joint Committee, The Government Office of the South East and Natural England. There is also a member from the Peak District National Park to promote links with the UK's family of National Parks.
A further group will advise Dr Shaw on the interests of environmental groups and people living and working in the protected area. This group comprises South Downs Joint Committee Members and our established Advisory Forum, including representatives from organisations such as the National Farmers’ Union, The Wildlife Trusts, The South Downs Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Through these two groups, it is expected that a wide range of voices will be heard and that organisations involved will be able to inform their members.
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What happens next?
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A ‘shadow’ National Park Authority is planned to be established by April 2010 and this is expected to be fully operational in April 2011.
The South Downs Joint Committee’s work protecting, conserving and enhancing the landscape will continue as before, until the organisation is wound up on 31 March 2011. The area is already protected by its AONB status and local people, businesses and visitors should not encounter disruption during the transition.
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Could the decision still be appealed against?
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‘Other than the six additional areas (noted above), which are subject to a new consultation exercise, the only remaining avenue for challenge is if a person questions the validity of the South Downs National Parks (Designation) Order 2002 on the grounds that it is not within the powers of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, or that the 1949 Act has not been complied with in relation to the making of the Order.
In that case there will be a 6 week period after the date of publication of the confirmation notice in which a person can make a High Court challenge.’ Defra
The work of the South Downs Joint Committee in protecting, conserving and enhancing the South Downs AONBs will continue as before, through any challenge, until the National Park Authority is fully operational.
Defra’s helpline on telephone: 08459 33 55 77 is open Mon-Fri: 8am to 6pm
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
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What about AONB areas not included in a National Park?
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On 31 March 2010, the AONB designation will be revoked. About 800 ha of land (made up of 70 small pockets of land) will lose their AONB status and will be excluded from the National Park.Outstanding Natural Beauty, to coincide with the National park coming into being.
These include areas of land that have been at least partially built on, the largest being the University of Sussex and land south of the Shoreham bypass. The most significant piece of undeveloped land excluded is Toads Hole Valley, south of the Brighton bypass. It will be up to the local authorities to decide whether any local protective designation should now be applied to any of these pockets of land.
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How will access rules change?
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The National Park confirmation will not, in itself, alter any access rules on any land. The area has been protected by its AONB status for many years and contains established rights of way and open access areas. None of these will change as a result of the confirmation of the National Park.
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How does a National Park differ from an AONB in terms of Management?
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AONBs are managed by a partnership of stakeholders. The South Downs AONBs are currently managed by the South Downs Joint Committee (SDJC), a collaboration of 15 local authorities and Natural England created to manage the area whilst a decision on its designation was made. The SDJC works with annually agreed budgets and was never intended to be a permanent body.
The National Park will be managed by a National Park Authority (NPA), a robust, permanent body which will be set up over the course of around 2 years. In the meantime, the South Downs will continue to be managed by the SDJC.
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How will planning rules change?
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The South Downs is already protected by its AONB status, so planning and development rules will be the same.
The NPA will become the planning authority for the area within the boundary. The NPA may choose to delegate aspects of this work to established local planning authorities. This is still to be agreed upon.
National Park status will not preclude further development. The aim is not to maintain a nostalgic, ‘trapped in time’ Park, but a living, working landscape with protected local distinctiveness for future generations to enjoy.
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What about the impact on local businesses?
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Local businesses are likely to benefit from the interest in the South Downs National Park.
The SDJC is a partner in the COLLABOR8 project which makes funding available to clusters of local entrepreneurs who wish to make their businesses more sustainable and make the most of the local distinctiveness of the area.
Find out more about COLLABOR8 by clicking on 'Proctecting the Landscape' and then 'COLLABOR8'.
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Will the South Downs be overwhelmed by visitors?
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As two AONBs, the South Downs already records around 39 million visitor days every year. This is more than any other National Park. However, the majority of visitors are local people using the area on a regular basis for walking and other activities.
Whilst some increase in visitor numbers may be expected, the South Downs Joint Committee is working to encourage people to leave their cars at home. Two examples are the popular ‘Breeze’ buses which run from Brighton up on to the Downs, and ‘Trails by Rails’ which encourage visitors to take the train. You can find out more about these by clicking on 'Visit South Downs'.
