Neighbourhood Plan Success

Published: 04 August 2021

The Westbourne electorate has voted in favour of the Neighbourhood Plan at a referendum on Thursday 29 July 2021 with 19.35% voting to adopt it.

330 people voted in favour with 22 voting against. The total electorate in the Parish is 1819. 

The Plan was written by local residents and sets out a vision for Westbourne through to 2029 to allow the local community to have more influence and control to ensure the right type of housing development is built in the Parish. It aims to protect Westbourne and make it an even better place to live, work and visit. 

It is now a statutory document which cannot be ignored and will be considered alongside the local plans of Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority as the starting point for deciding where development should take place and the type and quality of that development.  

Cllr Richard Hitchcock, Chair of Westbourne Parish Council, said: "We would like to thank members of the Steering Group would have worked tirelessly over the last eight years to develop a Plan that meets the needs of the Parish and local people. Without their hard work and support, Westbourne would be in a much weaker position to resist speculative applications from developers who could have applied to build houses wherever land was available, rather than in locations identified by those who live in the Parish".

Patricia Goodhew, member of the Steering Group, said: "Well, after eight years hard work, we’ve finally achieved our aim. Not quite sure how I feel as it’s been such a long time and there have been so many twists and turns. However, I am very pleased for the Parish Council and that you have a document on which you can “hang your hat” when it comes to planning matters especially in the future. While we have been forced to accept compromise on many issues, the document should provide protection for Westbourne in significant areas and enable you all to deliver on the aspirations for the residents of the Parish". 

See the declaration of result of poll from Chichester District Council. The Plan and supporting documents are available on our website.