Plans for 800 homes in Southbourne move forward with public consultation over key document

Local residents are being invited to have their say over plans to earmark land next to a village on the Hampshire/West Sussex border for up to 800 homes, as well as new local facilities.

The deadline for the latest round of public consultation on the Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document is 5pm on Friday, July 17, giving residents time to find out more and share their views.

The document sets out the proposed allocation of land in the village near Emsworth for future housing development and explains how this would be supported by community facilities and infrastructure. This includes deciding if more housing should be built in the east, west of both sides of the parish which also includes parts of Thorney Island - with land to the east of Southbourne the preferred option.

Chichester District Council has said that the consultation is a very specific one, which invites people to comment on two specific questions or tests. Known as the Regulation 19 consultation, respondents are asked whether the document meets legal requirements and whether it has been positively prepared and is justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

The document has been prepared to support the council’s Chichester Local Plan 2021–2039, which acts as a development blueprint for the district, which identifies Southbourne as a location for strategic development.

It also sets out the key planning considerations that will guide development, including infrastructure provision, housing, transport, landscape, and environmental impacts, with feedback from a previous consultation helping to shape it.

“The Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document aims to support a thriving and sustainable local community for Southbourne, both now and in the future,” says Cllr Bill Brisbane, Cabinet Member for Planning at Chichester District Council.

“The council’s Chichester Local Plan 2021-2039, which was formally adopted last year, broadly identifies Southbourne as an area that would support up to 800 additional homes. The role of the development plan document is to provide more detail, including the proposed location for development, along with the infrastructure and community facilities needed to support both existing and future residents.

“One of our key aims is to integrate a range of energy‑efficient homes that meet local needs, including affordable housing, while respecting Southbourne’s character, heritage and surrounding landscapes. The plan also considers how development can promote active and sustainable travel, enhance biodiversity, and help people stay connected with nature.”

Regulation 19 is the final stage of public consultation in the plan‑making process, during which the council is seeking views on whether the plan is legally compliant and sound. Following this consultation, the council will carefully review the comments received before submitting these to the Planning Inspectorate alongside the document, in the same way as the Local Plan.

Once adopted, the Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document will form part of the statutory development plan and will be a key consideration when the council makes decisions on relevant future planning applications.

People can view the document, along with supporting documents and evidence, and make comments relating to the specific questions (or tests) by visiting www.chichester.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsultations before 5pm on Friday, July 17 2026.