Providing affordable housing in our district is vital to ensure that young people and families can continue living and working in the place where they grew up.

In rural locations, registered housing providers often find it difficult to deliver new housing schemes due to the small number of homes involved. This is why Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are so important — the affordable homes are managed by local people and protected for local use.

I’m delighted to say that a ground-breaking £3.6m community-led project to deliver 12 affordable homes in Westbourne has now been completed, with residents welcomed into their new homes last month. Led by the Westbourne Community Trust, this is the first purpose-built community-led affordable housing scheme in our district.

The scheme offers housing for local residents who cannot afford to buy or rent on the open market, with the rent set at approximately 55% of market levels for the area. These homes will never be subject to the right to buy and will be retained permanently for social rent.

To help deliver the scheme, the council provided the land, awarded grant funding, and worked closely with the Trust. Additional support was provided by Westbourne Parish Council, the South Downs National Park Authority, The St Mary’s Hospital Trust, and Homes England. This is a fantastic project that will make a lasting difference to local people, and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved.

Another successful community-led housing scheme is in Easebourne, where residents moved into eight new affordable homes last spring. The homes were purchased by Midhurst Community Land Trust, and we provided grant funding from the council’s Community Led Housing Fund and Section 106 affordable housing funding to support this. The properties will be kept for local people who live, were brought up in, or work in the area and cannot afford to buy or rent locally, with the rent set at around 70% of the local open market rate.

The Midhurst and Westbourne CLTs have shown what can be achieved when the local community works with the council and other partners to deliver affordable housing, and I’m pleased to say that we have more CLTs coming forward in other rural areas of our district.

Communities interested in setting up their own affordable housing project are encouraged to contact our Housing Delivery Team for advice. There are many ways to do this, including community-owned rented housing; low-cost housing for sale; housing co-operatives; self-build schemes; co-ownership; and housing for older people. For more details, visit: www.chichester.gov.uk/communityledhousing / www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk

As the council does not own its own housing, we proactively reach out to partner organisations in the social housing sector to invite them to work with us to deliver affordable housing projects within the district. As part of this work, the council recently committed a £950,000 grant towards a project that will provide 19 high-quality affordable homes in North Mundham.

In partnership with community-based housing association, Worthing Homes — which builds affordable homes across West Sussex — the scheme will deliver 13 Social Rent and six Shared Ownership homes for people with a local connection. This is a significant step forward in addressing local housing in the North Mundham area.

This project is not only increasing the number of affordable homes in our district, but also ensuring they are built to high environmental standards that benefit residents and the wider community.

By continuing to support innovative schemes like these, we can help ensure that everyone has access to a safe, affordable home in the place they love.

To find out more about council schemes and projects like this, sign up to our free monthly initiatives+ email newsletter — www.chichester.gov.uk/newsalerts — and join our new Facebook Messenger channel — www.messenger.com/channel/ChichesterDistrictCouncil — for local news, events, emergency alerts, and opportunities to have your say in consultations.

Best wishes

Cllr Oona Hickson

Cabinet Member for Housing, Revenues and Benefits at Chichester District Council

Please attached file.

Please see file attached.

West Sussex Libraries Essential Toiletries Kits 2025

As part of our ongoing Cost of Living response, West Sussex Libraries will again be providing Essential Toiletries Kits free to residents. The Essential Toiletries Kits will contain shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, roll on deodorant, toothpaste, adult toothbrush and tissues. All will be in a sealed zip lock bag. Children’s toothbrushes will also be available for people to add to the Kits themselves, depending on their needs. They will be available from all 36 libraries and will be on display for anyone to collect.

The Kits will be available in libraries from Monday 24^th November while stocks last. We would appreciate if you would be able to spread the word about our Kits to your clients, to make sure people are aware of our offer.

How does it work?

Essential Toiletries Kits will be available for free in every one of our 36 libraries around West Sussex. All customers need to do is to visit their local library and find the display of the Essential Toiletries Kits. They can then help themselves to a bag, add a child’s toothbrush and then tick a sheet for our data records to say which group best represents their household – families with children/people with disabilities/older people or other if the previous categories do not relate to their circumstance.

Essential Period Products
Cost of Living Response / Household Support Fund 7

Information Sheet

As part of the Household Support Fund 7 (HSF7) the library service has been given funding to provide 2000 packs of period products for anyone to take away. Packs will be delivered tin the middle of November which will then be distributed wider across library groups. The packs will be available to collect from all 36 libraries week commencing 24th November, while stocks last.

What will the Essential Period Product bags consist of?

The Period Product bags will contain:

· 2 x Sanitary Pads

· 2 x Tampons

· 2 x Sanitising Wipe Sachets

· 1 x Paper Sanitary Disposal Bag

Packed in a pink striped paper bag (stapled at the top)

Please see attachment below.

Just letting you know about the fireworks we have at Goodwood House in December:

Thursday 4^th    8.00pm

Friday 5^th        8.00 pm

Saturday 6th    8.00pm

Please do bear in mind the start time may alter slightly for any changes on the night. They will last for approximately 15 minutes.

We do not have firework displays for New Years Eve.

Singleton School Tree Planting Project

Dear Resident,

I’d like to share a little more information about the project we are working on in the field behind your home.

The Goodwood Estate has very kindly agreed for this field to be used by Singleton Primary School to create a new area of woodland. The South Downs National Park Trust is supporting the project by providing funding for trees, which will be planted by school children and other volunteers, with help from myself and the South Downs Ranger Team.

This space will support outdoor learning and forest school activities, while also enhancing local biodiversity by creating new woodland habitat. The new woodland will connect through hedgerows to larger wooded areas on the surrounding estates. The trees will also help slow water flow from the Downs, reducing the volume and speed of water reaching the section of the River Lavant below the field during heavy rainfall.

I’m very sorry to hear that the new fencing in the field behind your home has caused concern for some people. The fencing is intended to protect the young trees as they establish, and is expected to be in place for 10–15 years. If it remains in good condition, it may stay longer to continue safeguarding the habitat.

I’d be happy to visit and view the fence from your side of the river. I also understand that removing the old fenceline involved clearing a lot of scrubby vegetation. I’d be glad to arrange planting some trees outside the deer fence, to help soften the new view. We also have wildflower seeds available to sow on any disturbed ground along the banks on the Goodwood side.

I’m sorry if this work came as a surprise. I had hoped to reach everyone who this might affect via the Parish Council, but I realise now that I wasn’t able to inform everyone in advance.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like me to visit; my email address is: chloe.goddard@southdowns.gov.uk. I’d be very happy to have a look and make plans for planting on the bank tops outside the fenceline.

Warm regards,
Chloe Goddard
Ranger

I wanted to make you aware of a couple of projects in the local area which you might be interested in knowing more about.

1. Volunteer task on Centurion Way at Singleton Station Sunday 28^th September. “hoe and sow”. The SDNPA volunteers will be there between 10 and 3pm (unless we finish sooner). It would be great if anyone else from the wider community wanted to join in they could drop by at anytime, no need to stay the whole day. There will be gloves, tea and coffee available but if anyone wants to come all day they should bring lunch. We don’t have many hoes, so if anyone has one they should bring it along. I appreciate it is short notice so understand if you don’t have a way of sharing this more widely.

1. Singleton School Wood. Singleton School and the South Downs National Park have permission from The Goodwood Estate to plant a woodland for use by the school for outdoor learning. This will be planted this autumn/winter. To protect the woodland a deer fence will be erected around the field before planting begins. There is more information on the attached document. Please do get in touch if you would like anymore details or if you think there are specific groups or people who should be informed. It would be great if the community wanted to get involved in the project as well as the School.

Best wishes

Chloë

Singleton and Charlton Pamondayrish Council

Meeting Dates for 2025

Meetings are held in Singleton Village Hall at 7pm

Annual PC Meeting & Annual Parish Meeting

Held in Singleton Cricket Club at 7pm

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 20^th January 2025

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 17th March 2025

Full Annual Parish Council Meeting Monday 19th May 2025

And Annual Parish Meeting Singleton Cricket Club

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 21st July 2025

Full Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 17th September 2025

Full Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 19^th November 2025

Date of Release:20 August 2025 Ref:4509

Council adopts new Chichester Local Plan

Chichester District Council has officially adopted the Chichester Local Plan 2021–2039, following approval at a Full Council meeting on Tuesday 19 August.

This marks a significant milestone in shaping the future of the area, setting out a comprehensive vision for the area’s economy; transport and housing needs; environmental and historic protection; community health and wellbeing; and cultural development.

The adopted plan, which covers the area of the Chichester District outside the South Downs National Park, identifies housing requirements and development areas to support economic growth and deliver new homes over the next 14 years. It also includes a wide range of policies addressing areas such as design standards, climate change, and the natural environment.

“This is a major achievement and great news for our area and communities,” says Cllr Bill Brisbane, Cabinet Member for Planning at Chichester District Council. “The Chichester Local Plan has been one of the most complex pieces of work we have ever undertaken. The council has worked incredibly hard to prepare and now adopt the new Local Plan, having faced a number of significant challenges, particularly around roads, wastewater, and water neutrality.

“Planning affects where we live, work and relax; where new shops and community facilities are built; and it protects our historic buildings and the natural environment. The Local Plan addresses all of these issues and more, helping to make Chichester a vibrant and greener area. This gives us the opportunity to create a better future for our residents and businesses.

“Preparing a Local Plan is a difficult and lengthy process, and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in completing this important piece of work. This includes everyone who has shared their views in the public consultations that we carried out in the lead up to, and throughout, the examination process — your input has played an important role in shaping the plan.”

Adoption of the plan follows completion of an independent examination process, which began in May last year when the council submitted the plan to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate. The Inspectors assessed the plan, supporting evidence, and public feedback, and held a series of public hearings before identifying a number of ‘main modifications’ needed to make the plan ‘sound’. In April and May, the council consulted on these modifications and after reviewing the responses, the Inspectors issued a final report confirming that the plan, with the recommended modifications, is sound, legally compliant, and ready for adoption.

The Local Plan will guide future development and provide the policies against which planning applications will be assessed. It also supports parish councils in preparing neighbourhood plans.

Bill adds: “All Planning Authorities are expected to meet the housing needs figure that is set by central Government for their Local Plan area. This drives the current level of housing supply and the housing requirement, which forms the basis for the Local Plan.

“Given the local challenges we face — particularly around transport infrastructure and environmental constraints — the plan we submitted for examination proposed a housing requirement of around 90% of the government’s housing needs figure for this area. However, based on the evidence, which included representations from National Highways in relation to the A27, the Inspectors concluded that there wasn’t sufficient justification to set a housing requirement lower than the full identified housing need. However, they permitted a stepped requirement, beginning with 575 homes per year as originally proposed by the council, but only for the years up to 2029/30, increasing to 701 per year following this, to enable an average of 638 homes per year over the full plan period.

“The Inspectors agreed that the most suitable location for housing growth is Chichester and the east/west corridor, which is where the majority of the proposed new housing and strategic sites are located within the Local Plan.

“The adopted plan also includes a wide range of robust policies aimed at protecting and conserving our area’s environment and historic character. It places greater emphasis on design standards and includes more policies relating to the natural environment.

“While the plan seeks to use as many brownfield sites as possible for development, our area lacks a legacy of large industrial sites that are suitable for significant levels of brownfield redevelopment. However, where opportunities do exist, for example in the Southern Gateway area, the plan sets out how the council will actively work to utilise these and unlock potential.”

People can find more information about the Chichester Local Plan, at:www.chichester.gov.uk/localplan. Information relating to the examination process, can be found at: www.chichester.gov.uk/localplanexaminationand the Planning Inspectors full report and the Full Council report are both available at: www.chichester.gov.uk/localplanexaminationnews

Hello All

We want to let you know that our local government reorganisation engagement survey is now live at: www.shapingwestsussex.org. Please make sure that you take part in our survey to help shape the future of local government in West Sussex. The survey is open until 11.59pm on Wednesday 13 August. We would also be grateful if you could help us to promote this to friends, family, colleagues, residents, community groups and businesses. If you would like any promotional assets – including social media graphics, leaflets or posters - please let us know and we will send them through.

We have also attached the prospectus pack, which provides more detail on the options. This is also available for people to look at on our www.shapingwestsussex.org platform.

If you have any questions or need any further help, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Many thanks

Sarah

Council starts to prepare for local government reorganisation

To ensure it is at the forefront of preparations for local government reorganisation, Chichester District Council has made some changes to the way its senior management team will work.

Its current Director of Corporate Services, John Ward, has been made Chief Operating Officer. He will take on the day-to-day management of the council to enable the Chief Executive, Diane Shepherd, to focus on preparing the council for local government reorganisation. Diane will continue to be responsible for the strategic overview of the council’s work, including preparing the council for the changes ahead and will remain the Chief Executive of the council.

To coincide with this, Diane will reduce her hours and will work three days a week from June. She will continue with this arrangement until 31 March 2027, when she will retire after 40 years of working in local government. Following this time, John Ward will then become the Head of Paid Service and will lead the council through the shadow year, before it joins the new unitary authority.

The changes will not increase costs and will result in a small saving to the council.

“We are really pleased that Diane will be leading the council through this transitional period. She is an exceptional leader, who is highly respected amongst our communities, and has she has made a significant contribution to the district and its success over the past 34 years,” says Cllr Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council.

“These changes will allow her to focus on preparing for this huge change, to ensure that we achieve the very best outcomes for our staff and communities.

“We also know that John will play a vital role in making sure that council services and projects continue to be delivered to a high standard, while the local government reorganisation work moves forward.”

“It has been a privilege to lead this council over the past 13 years and so I am really pleased that I have the opportunity to prepare the council for this next chapter,” says Diane Shepherd, Chief Executive at Chichester District Council. “My priority is to achieve the very best options and outcomes for our staff, councillors and communities under the new authority. It’s also fitting that after working at the council for 34 years, I have the opportunity to mark the end of my career here, at a place that has given me so many opportunities and memories.”

The government has stated that it wants all areas of the country to have unitary councils, with each serving an average of 500,000 residents. This is likely to result in the creation of one or two unitary councils within West Sussex. This would mean all of the existing councils moving into the new unitary councils. Each area has until 26 September this year to submit detailed proposals.

In Sussex, the timeline is for the unitary authorities to be ready in shadow form in 2027, and for the new councils to come into effect in 2028. People can find out more about devolution and local government reorganisation by visiting:www.chichester.gov.uk/devolution

Please see file attached. 

Please see attachment below.

Drones

Drone Classes and Subcategories

The UK drone legislation divides drones into three main classes: A1, A2, and A3. Each class has its own set of rules and regulations.

A1 Subcategory: Fly over people, but not over crowds. This subcategory includes drones with a flying weight of less than 250g.

A2 Subcategory: Fly close to people. This subcategory includes drones with a flying weight of 250g to 2kg.

A3 Subcategory: Fly far from people. This subcategory includes drones with a flying weight of less than 25kg.

Registration and Competency

To operate a drone in the UK, you need to register it with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and obtain a Competency Certificate (CofC).

Registration: You need to register your drone if it weighs between 250g and 25kg or has a camera. You can register your drone online through the CAA website.

Competency Certificate: You need to obtain a CofC if you want to fly a drone in the A2 or A3 subcategory. The CofC requires you to pass an online test and demonstrate your understanding of drone safety and regulations.

Operating Areas and Restrictions

There are certain areas where drone flying is restricted or prohibited. These areas include:

Airports: You cannot fly a drone within 5.5 kilometers of an airport or any area designated as a restricted airspace.

National Parks: You need to obtain permission from the park authority before flying a drone in a national park.

Military Areas: You need to obtain permission from the military authority before flying a drone in a military area.

Crowded Areas: You cannot fly a drone over crowded areas, such as sports events or festivals.

Safety Considerations

When flying a drone in the UK, you need to consider the following safety factors:

Height: You cannot fly a drone above 120 meters.

Distance: You need to maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters from people and buildings.

Speed: You cannot fly a drone at a speed greater than 50 knots (93 km/h).

Weather: You cannot fly a drone in bad weather conditions, such as strong winds or low visibility.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

If you fail to comply with the UK drone legislation, you may face penalties, including:

Fine: You may be fined up to £1,000 for flying a drone without permission.

Prison Sentence: You may be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison for flying a drone recklessly or negligently.

Drone Confiscation: Your drone may be confiscated if you are found to be flying it illegally.

The Drone and Model Aircraft Code - Attached below.

Please find attached Southern Water Presentations

Date of Release: 22 May 2024 Ref: 4330

Council agrees funding for vital river restoration projects in Chichester District

Projects aimed at restoring three of the Chichester District’s rare river habitats have received a boost after councillors agreed to help fund them.

At a Chichester District Council meeting on Tuesday 21 May, councillors agreed to invest £180,000 over the next three years, as part of two projects being led by the Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT), formerly known as theArun and Rother Rivers Trust (ARRT), to help restore the River Lavant and also the Ems and the Hambrook.

The money will part-fund two posts. One post will work on furthering a restoration plan for the Ems and the Hambrook. The other will begin work on a similar plan for the Lavant.

“We are delighted to be able to support the Western SussexRivers Trust in their critical work and help fund these key projects,” says Councillor Jonathan Brown, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Strategy at Chichester District Council. “The trust approached us for help, and we felt that it was crucial to support them in this way because our contribution will in turn help them to unlock further potential funding from other sources.

“Many people may not be aware but the rivers Ems, Hambrook and Lavant are among only 283 chalk streams and rivers in the world. These are globally significant but very rare habitats and are almost exclusively found in the south of England. None of these rivers has official protection but we are seeking to gain better protection for them through the Chichester Local Plan and its Strategic Wildlife Corridors policy.We appreciate that this isn’t enough on its own and that significant recovery work also needs to take place.

“Sadly, these rivers are now suffering from the effects of a number of activities including: pollution; habitat loss; drought; and, interruptions to their natural processes and flow. In addition, the River Ems is also suffering the effects of over-abstraction, a process where water is removed for domestic, industrial uses and agriculture.

“These chalk streams also feed into the internationally protected Chichester Harbour Special Protection Area and so it is absolutely vital that as a council we do all that we are able to do in order to support their protection and restoration for future generations. These projects will safeguard the future of three of the most significant rivers and streamsin our district which will then also have a positive effect on our harbour.

“Working with our partners on projects such as these is key. Our role is to help facilitate other organisations who have the expertise to enable results that the council wouldn’t be able to achieve on its own.”

The projects are catchment-based plans, so not only would they look at the rivers and streams themselves, but also the whole landscape area that feeds into them.

The work will focus on restoring the natural function in the river channels; tackling invasive non-native species; andriver re-meandering. This is work that creates a new meandering course or reconnects cut-off meander. Thiscan slow down river flow and is also known to have a positive impact on sedimentation and biodiversity.

Alongside this work, the project officers will also work with landowners and the local community to carry out citizen science, which would include a range of activities such as monitoring water quality, biodiversity and encouraging people to report incidents.

Getting the public and local community involved is key to gathering good statistics in order to gain good outcomes. The officers will also run public events to build community engagement and understanding of the issues affecting the rivers — this will feed into finding potential solutions.

The Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT) isone of a national network of river trusts that aim to protect and restore our rivers and streams. The Trust’s area covers nearly all of Chichester and Arun Districts. The trust has been working on a series of catchment-based plans for the restoration of rivers and their tributary streams within Chichester District.

As part of the projects the council will meet regularly with WSRT to monitor progress

Please see attachment.

Priority Services Register

Please see attachment below.

Please see attachment below.

See PDF Below

Please see attachment below. Submitted to SDNP on 7/11/23.

Please see attached information.