Decision details

The County Council, in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority, is required to undertake a Soft Sand Review (SSR) of the West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan (JMLP), which is part of the statutory ‘development plan’ for West Sussex.  The SSR considers the need for soft sand during the plan period (to 2033) and identifies changes to the JMLP to meet this demand, including the need for new site allocations. 

Informal public consultation on issues and options took place in January–March 2019 (under Regulation 18) followed by a formal period for representations on proposed changes to the JMLP in January-March 2020 (under Regulation 19).  In April 2020, the draft was submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

Following hearing sessions for the examination in August 2020, the Government-appointed Inspector has indicated that the submitted changes need to be modified to make them ‘sound’ and suitable for adoption.

Following approval, public consultation on the Proposed Modifications will take place during November 2020-January 2021, before they are submitted to the Inspector.

The Inspector will consider the Proposed Modifications and the representations made on them.  He will then report whether they are ‘sound’ and, if they are, they will be adopted by both Authorities as formal changes to the JMLP.

48.1     The Cabinet Member for Environment moved the report on the Proposed Modifications to the Soft Sand Review of the West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan (pages 77 to 110).

48.2     Resolved –

That the Proposed Modifications to the Soft Sand Review, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for public consultation on their soundness, followed by submission to the Inspector.