A turf war has broken out between two authorities over the right to manage parts of the South Downs.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s City Plan, which sets out council policies until 2030, includes planning guidelines for areas inside the South Downs National Park.

The council has identified areas on the outskirts of the city suitable for future development.

But officials from the South Downs are adamant the council’s proposals fall outside its authority and they should be removed.

They’re also asking for the council to stop referring to themselves as “landowners”.

In official planning documents from the South Downs National Park Authority, the council’s plans are described as “unsound”.

It points out that the City Plan is not a “joint venture” between the South Downs and the council.

The report continues: “Although the council is a major landowner, this does not require or entitle the council to produce planning policies outside of their administrative area and beyond their legal jurisdiction as a local planning authority.”

A spokesman from the South Downs National Park said: “In this case there is the inclusion of a policy which is unsound, as it is outside the plan area of the adjoining planning authority.

“We have advised that this should therefore be removed.

“We have also suggested that some of the important commentary describing the role and aspirations of the city council as landowners be included elsewhere in their city plan.”

A spokesman from Brighton and Hove City Council said it was confident any outstandingmatters relating to the City Plan would be resolved with the park.

The plan will be considered at a later date by a Government planning inspectorate.