Arun District Council could face a bill of over £1.5million to prepare a new Local Plan
Arun District Council could face a bill of over £1.5million to prepare a new Local Plan, as uncertainty continues over local government reorganisation (LGR).
A Local Plan sets out how land can be developed and used in an area, including where new homes, jobs and infrastructure could be located. It is used to guide decisions on planning applications.
The council is required to prepare this document under reforms brought in by the Government earlier this year.
However, West Sussex is still awaiting confirmation of the future structure of local government, with a decision on this expected in October. A council report describes the work as a ‘stepping stone’ before the Government decides on the geography of the new authority.
The new unitary authorities are expected to hold elections in May 2027, with new councils to begin operating in 2028.
The report states: “This represents a significant delay, and the knock-on impacts of this create a huge amount of uncertainty for those councils affected in terms of taking decisions on how to progress.”
The new Local Plan is expected to cost more than £1.5m, although the report confirmed that this figure was not included in the council’s existing budgets.
Officers have warned that preparing this plan will prove problematic as there is a risk as it could be abandoned if a new unitary authority is established before work is completed.
The added that there is no benefit to preparing two or more separate Local Plans for the wider area and instead suggests the most likely option will be to work with neighbouring councils on a Joint Local Plan which covers the proposed unitary area.
Despite ongoing uncertainty, Arun District Council must submit a Notice of Intention to Commence the Local Plan preparation by December 31, 2026 and adopt it within a 30-month timeframe.
The council’s planning policy committee discussed the report on September 3, with a further report due in November to advise them on how to proceed.
Officers are currently collaborating with neighbouring authorities and continuing their preparatory work, while awaiting more information about the future of local government in West Sussex.