East Hampshire and the South Downs National Park

From 1 April 2011, the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA)will be fully operational and take on the role of planning authority for land within its area.  In East Hampshire, this is approximately one third of the district.

The purposes of the South Downs National Park are:

1. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area

2. To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the Park’s special qualities by the public

Covering an area over 1,600 square kilometres, the South Downs National Park stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to the chalk cliffs of Eastbourne in East Sussex, with over 107,000 people living in the area.

For the first year, East Hampshire District Council will act as agent for the SDNPA, acting as agent and processing planning applications on its behalf.