South Down Project

What’s it all about? / What could happen

What could happen

What could happen to the site?

The future of the Cement Works now hangs in the balance; there are a number of possible outcomes.

The three possibilities

The South Downs National Park will be presenting their findings and recommendations in their Local Plan to the Government in 2018, in the meantime, from conversations that we’ve had with the National Park, the owner of the Option on the land, and other interested parties, it would appear that one of three possibilities could be the likely outcome. 

(Click headings below to reveal/hide each possibility)

1. Do Nothing

If the South Downs National Park insist that no houses can be built in any significant number, or they just wait to see what might be done in the future, then the site could well stay deserted.

2. Chalk grinding

If no planning is agreed for anything better, then the company who have an Option to buy the site, could legally use it to grind Chalk Clinker into dust for making Cement. Not only would this be a tragic waste of the opportunity to do something that really helped local communities, it might even end up blighting them more.

How? Well, it turns out that the chalk in the Shoreham Chalk Pit is incredibly hard, so therefore very expensive to extract. Which means that it’s more profitable to bring chalk in as huge lumps of Chalk Clinker from Europe to Shoreham Harbour, transfer it to lorries, drive it through Shoreham to the Cement Works, and then grind it in a portable grinder. And then transport the consequent dust to whoever has bought it to make Cement.

The grinding machine can produce 300 tonnes of chalk dust a day. That’s a lot of extra lorry movements in the National Park. And they have a licence to do this until 2042.

3. A development, of some sort

If the South Downs National Park agree that something better than 1 or 2 should happen, then it’s down to people like you to tell people like us exactly what that should be.

 

The role of the South Downs National Park

The final outcome will largely be determined by the South Downs National Park, they are the ultimate Planning Authority for the Cement Works site, and they are currently in the process of consulting with stakeholders during their “Local Plan: Preferred Options Consultation”.

south_downs_planningTheir initial “Summary of Responses” was published in February 2016, and the section relating to the Shoreham Cement Works reads as follows:

Policy SD32: Shoreham Cement Works

There were a total of 34 comments on this policy. These are summarised below.

(Click headings below to reveal/hide each summary of comments)

National Agencies

Environment Agency are seeking clarification on the potential for contaminated land in relation to Shoreham Cement Works and how it would be addressed by any redevelopment. They support the references to conservation and enhancement of biodiversity and recommend that redevelopment takes into account the protection of water quality of the River Adur.

Historic England welcome interpretation of the historic origins and significance of the site in any development that comes forward, the need to conserve the pre-historic cross-ridge dyke scheduled monument and criterion 3 (b). They suggested some detailed wording changes to improve the policy.

Borough, City, County and District Councils

West Sussex County Council advised that selectively targeted transport study is needed to provide evidence to support the proposed allocations, as well as further information on the proposed park and ride facilities.

Brighton & Hove City Council and Adur and Worthing Council consider that the site should support uses that serve the local economies of Adur and Worthing and the coastal conurbations. Adur and Worthing commented on the significant housing shortfalls in Adur and Worthing and considered the policy too restrictive in relation to employment types.

Horsham District Council support the restoration and development of the site but consider it should be an employment site and an assessment should be undertaken to ensure that the proposals do not conflict with nearby settlements.

Parish and Town Councils

Steyning Parish Council, Upper Beeding Parish Council and Madehurst Parish Meeting support the Shoreham Cement Works policy.

Other Organisations

South Downs Society and Wiggonholt Assoication support the policy.

Sussex Wildlife Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (joint comments) support the policy with some minor changes to strengthen the policy to include ‘net gains’ for biodiversity.

Ricardo plc/ South Downs Partnership member, raised concerns about housing pressure, economic viability, implementation timescales, deliverability and conflict with environmental growth hub for Shoreham.

Agents and Developers

South Downs Project Ltd raised concerns about: lack of support from local stakeholders or potential landowner, deliverability; lack of ambition; viability; compromise. Group have proposed alternative scheme.

Callstone Ltd raised the following issues: they consider site is sustainable location for housing; restoration of area D would address SDNPA’s purpose 1; sub-areas could accommodate different development solutions; lack of evidence to support the policy; policy and supporting text too onerous. Callstone object to the reference to a specific scheme without any viability assessment to back it up.

Callstone also commented on the identified constraints, retention of buildings, access and mix of uses, suggested additional wording on history of the site and planning status and alternative wording for the policy. They would support an alternative mixed use scheme similar to the 2003 Appeal scheme.

Individuals

1 individuals supported the potential for creating visitor attractions and tourist centre.

1 individual (Sompting Estate) raised concerns about the impact on dark night skies

Acknowledgements:

The South Down Project is staffed and run by volunteers, all of whom give their time and enthusiasm completely free.

Plus, we are very fortunate to have the support of some of the best professional experts in the country, many of whom have also given freely of their time and expertise.

We’d like to gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance of everybody who is helping us.

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Special Acknowledgement

The idea that grew to become The South Down Project was the brainchild of Shoreham resident, Mr Christopher Harris. Chris is a retired architect, who during his long career, had worked amongst others with Sir Hugh Casson and Sir Denys Lasdun on some of London's most famous landmark buildings.

It is his spirit, enthusiasm and inspiration that have continuously fuelled the innovation that underpins the Project, and the South Down Project team and its supporters gratefully acknowledge his experience and constant determination.

Thanks Chris, we owe it all to you.

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