Planning
The society's role
Ditchling’s Neighbourhood Plan was finalised in 2018. The settlement boundary of Ditchling is tightly drawn and there are few opportunities for further development within the planning boundary. Most residents of Ditchling gave clear guidance as to the type of development they wanted, with the emphasis placed on homes for the young, the less affluent and the elderly. Ditchling also has a role providing services for the surrounding area and acting as a gateway to the National Park. The Ditchling Society strongly supported the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan and actively works to defend the principles of development contained within it.
Monitoring the intricacies of the planning system is not for the fainthearted! Central government sets overall policy through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), last updated in 2021 but subject to regular review and amendment. Most of Ditchling lies within the South Downs National Park and is subject to the policies contained in the South Downs Local Plan that was adopted in 2019. Elements of the Lewes District Local Plan from 2016 are also relevant to Ditchling. Our Neighbourhood Plan sits under these wider-area planning strategies.
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) sets most of the planning policy for Ditchling, but maintains only a small cadre of its own planners. It delegates most of the detailed work to the planning teams in the district authorities that have communities in the National Park. In the case of Ditchling most of the planning applications are handled by Lewes District Council, although the SDNPA reserves the right to ‘call in’ applications that have a strategic significance for the Park.
Anyone can comment on planning applications and the Ditchling Society keeps its members informed on planning applications that have strategic importance for the community. Details of current and historical applications can be searched for using the SDNPA’s planning website.
Further information:
Lewes District Council – Planning and Building Control:
www.lewes.gov.uk/planning with tabs to: Planning Application Process/ Latest Planning Applications/ Comment on Planning Applications