Benefits – Sustainable
Undoubtedly, the South Downs is a place of immense natural beauty, with a rich natural, geographical and social history. The South Downs National Park, and the area currently occupied by the Cement Works and Chalk Pit, are both recognised as assets for the UK in general and the South of England in particular.
It is therefore incumbent upon whomever develops the Chalk Pit to place the sustainability of that development at the heart of their proposals and delivery. It is their responsibility to firstly preserve, and then enhance, the heritage of this unique landscape and environment.
Sustainability
Sustainability, as a concern for the future, has been investigated for many years. “Our Common Future”, by most people known as the Brundtland Report, was published in 1987 and is the outcome of the work by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
Design for Social Sustainability
“Design for Social Sustainability” (The Young Foundation, 2011) sets out a framework for planning and designing the service, spaces, housing and governance arrangements to help local communities to thrive.
Blending in
Once the development has been established, with systems in operation to keep the community ‘off the grid’, the focus shifts to the potential impact which may or may not be sustained to the immediate vicinity. Sustainability, by its definition, is the diversification and constant productivity of a given ecosystem – that being said, the project has to fully integrate with the conditions of the present area.
Environmental Sustainability is the ability to maintain rates of renewable resource harvest, pollution creation, and non-renewable resource depletion that can be continued indefinitely.
Economic Sustainability is the ability to support a defined level of economic production indefinitely.
Social Sustainability is the ability of a social system, such as a country, to function at a defined level of social well being indefinitely.
Collaboration with the SDNP
The SDNPA is collaborating in partnership with stakeholders in order to develop its National Park Management Plan (NPMP) ,which will be current until 2035. In addition, the SDNPA will be cognisant of the European Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) directive.