Future growth of town thrown into doubt

A Government inspector has raised concerns about Adur District Council's core strategy plan for Shoreham.

It outlines the future development of key sites in Adur, including Shoreham Airport and Shoreham Harbour, over the next two decades.

Adur's vision to build thousands of new homes and create new jobs in the area could also be affected.

The inspector has told council bosses that they have not provided enough evidence to support the ambitious plans, creating "considerable uncertainty".

He was due to hold a pre-examination meeting (PEM) to discuss the strategy with the council, other agencies and community groups on Tuesday.

It was suddenly cancelled yesterday (wed) after he expressed "concerns about the soundness" of the core strategy.

The inspector told Adur executives he wants instead to hold an exploratory meeting (EM) with all parties, including the Government Office of the South East.

It will be held at Adur Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham, on Tuesday at 10am.

The inspector stressed that the fact that he had raised concerns does not mean that he has ruled that the strategy is unsound.

A notice cancelling the PEM appeared on Adur's website yesterday.

It states: "The inspector has a number of concerns he wants to put before the council at an early stage.

"These concerns relate to the spatial vision and strategy, the evidence base, housing and employment provision, gaps between settlements and cross-boundary issues."

The inspector has set out his concerns in writing on the council's website.

He asks: "Is the plan clear about what is to happen, when and how?

"Mostly, general statements are made in the spatial vision that could apply to many areas.

"In terms of what could actually happen in Adur, there is a lack of clarity and considerable uncertainty."

He says the core strategy does not make it clear what the scale and location of development will be over the next 20 years.

The inspector said some parts of the strategy had been made "without a full and up to date evidence base".

He was particularly concerned about flood risk and traffic impact on any new developments.

The inspector raised further questions about sites identified as suitable for housing.

And he is concerned that key sites for new employment have "significant constraints" and asks how they will be overcome.

No evidence will be heard at Tuesday's meeting and no discussion will be allowed on the merits of cases contained in the core strategy.

The notice cancelling the PEM states: "It is simply an opportunity for the inspector to highlight those matters that concern him as to the soundness of the core strategy.

"It should not be taken that, in calling this meeting, the inspector has concluded that the document is unsound."

Council leader Neil Parkin said: "It is not unusual for an inspector to question a core strategy.

"This is the inspector's role for all core strategies in the country. He is not saying the plan is unsound.

"This district has benefited from new development and regeneration and this will continue."

He added: "Next week when we have the exploratory meeting with the inspector we will be able to clarify the issues and points made by him."