City Downland Estate Plan - Have Your Say
Brighton & Hove’s rural estate is made up of around 12,800 acres of land in the South Downs National Park. You can read about our City Downland Estate Plan on the council website.
Together with residents we are developing a new vision for this valuable asset in the city. It is a unique opportunity to explore how we can use this land to help tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies and reduce carbon emissions.
Creation of the City Downland Estate Plan – Final Steps
Work to create the plan has now been done, with residents, interested groups, partner organisations, council officers and members all having contributed to evolving and improving the plan. The plan is ambitious and far reaching and sets out how a protected and enhanced downland estate can positively impact on all the residents of Brighton & Hove. The project team would like to thank everyone that has given their time, knowledge, experience and passion for the downland estate to the creation of the plan. We look forward to working with the wider community of Brighton & Hove as we begin to put the plan into action.
The final version of the City Downland Estate Plan is due to go to the council’s Policy & Resources committee on the 1st December 2022 to become an approved policy document.
Once approved, work will then commence on implementing the plan and we will pass the approved plan to SDNPA to become an endorsed Whole Estate Plan (scheduled for Feb 23).
Thank you for your ongoing interest in the City Downland Estate Plan. If you have any questions on the above, please contact us at citydownlandestateplan@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Brighton & Hove’s rural estate is made up of around 12,800 acres of land in the South Downs National Park. You can read about our City Downland Estate Plan on the council website.
Together with residents we are developing a new vision for this valuable asset in the city. It is a unique opportunity to explore how we can use this land to help tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies and reduce carbon emissions.
Creation of the City Downland Estate Plan – Final Steps
Work to create the plan has now been done, with residents, interested groups, partner organisations, council officers and members all having contributed to evolving and improving the plan. The plan is ambitious and far reaching and sets out how a protected and enhanced downland estate can positively impact on all the residents of Brighton & Hove. The project team would like to thank everyone that has given their time, knowledge, experience and passion for the downland estate to the creation of the plan. We look forward to working with the wider community of Brighton & Hove as we begin to put the plan into action.
The final version of the City Downland Estate Plan is due to go to the council’s Policy & Resources committee on the 1st December 2022 to become an approved policy document.
Once approved, work will then commence on implementing the plan and we will pass the approved plan to SDNPA to become an endorsed Whole Estate Plan (scheduled for Feb 23).
Thank you for your ongoing interest in the City Downland Estate Plan. If you have any questions on the above, please contact us at citydownlandestateplan@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Your Contributions
Please share with us any of your work or projects on the South Downs and share your stories with us
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NFU Response to CDEP
5 months ago(Posted on behalf of the National Farmers Union)
View the response to the City Downland Estate Plan consultation from the National Farmers Union [PDF Download]. -
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Land-management
by Ecological Land Coop, almost 2 years agoThe Ecological Land Cooperative (ELC) is an established, community benefit society and membership organisation open to all based in Brighton.
The ELC develops affordable, low impact, small farms for new entrant farmers to ecological agriculture.
We want to see a living, working countryside where land is accessible to everyone and affordable for those who want a low impact land-based livelihood, using natural inputs to grow good, healthy local food and produce that benefits people, communities and the natural environment long into the future.The ELC model for creating affordable, ecological small farms has been proven with permanent planning permission for... Continue reading
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Brighton Downs Alliance Position Statement and Addendum - 18th March 2021
almost 2 years ago(Posted on behalf of the Brighton Downs Alliance)
View an addendum to the Brighton Downs Alliance statement (available here)
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Living Coast Response to CDEP
almost 2 years ago(Posted on behalf of The Living Coast)
View the response to the City Downland Estate Plan consultation from The Living Coast [PDF Download]. -
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Cycling UK Response to CDEP Consultation
almost 2 years ago(Posted on behalf of Cycling UK)
View the response to the City Downland Estate Plan consultation from Cycling UK's local representative [PDF Download]. -
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Extinction Rebellion Response to CDEP
almost 2 years ago(Submitted on behalf of Extinction Rebellion Brighton)
View the response to the City Downland Estate Plan from Extinction Rebellion Brighton [PDF Download] -
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Grass Verges
almost 2 years ago(Submitted on behalf of the Ovingdean Preservation Society)
I’m on the committee of the Ovingdean Residents and Preservation Society. We have a good relationship with the local farmer, helping with ragwort pulling and are now working on planting a native hedge (whips from I Dig Trees).
I would like to see some mention of grass verges in the estate plan. There is a huge amount of land involved both in the urban fringe and motorways. The lack of care in both is increasing especially the motorways and link roads. Orchids, primroses, hazel etc are strewn with rubbish. Lack of care... Continue reading
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Brighton & Hove Food Partnership Consultation Response
almost 2 years ago(Submitted on behalf of Brighton & Hove Food Partnership)View the response to the Brighton & Hove City Council Downland Consultation 2021 by the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership [PDF Download].
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Speakout Link Group meeting 25/3/21 - Notes
almost 2 years ago(Subnitted on behalf of the Speakout Link Group)
What the group liked about the countryside- Going out for drives
- Going there for peace
- Seeing the animals (horses & sheep)
- The chance to grow things and socialise (good example if Moulsecoomb Forest Garden)
Getting there
- Most people do not have access to a car. It’s difficult to get into the countryside without a car
- Buses are confusing and not regular enough
- Up at Devils Dyke, bus times are not clear. The timetables are confusing
- If you have mobility issues and don’t have a car, getting to the countryside (IE through difficult... Continue reading
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The Network of International Women for Brighton & Hove Feedback
almost 2 years ago‘The Future of the Downland’ for the City of Brighton & Hove
Feedback from our consultation (February/March 2021) with women resident in the City and who are from Syria, Sudan, Argentina, Jordan, Yemen, and Iran, as well some who were born in the UK.
We introduced the aim of the consultation exercise, emphasising this is a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity ‘to protect the Downland for the next 100 years – for us and the next generation. We showed photos of key areas which are accessible and talked about those. Those were: Ditchling Beacon, Castle Hill Nature Reserve, Sheepcote Valley... Continue reading
Draft City Downland Estate Plan
The Vision
Audit Information
Your Contributions Index (Alphabetical)
- All new developments in BHCC (by Ian)
- A new model for organic 'sheep and corn' farming on the Brighton Downs (by Friends of The Brighton Downs)
- B&HCC Downland - Whole Estate Plan Consultation (The South Downs Society)
- Beacon Hill Rottingdean (by MikeJS)
- Benfield Valley Nature Reserve (by Kayla Potter-Jones)
A Brighton Landscape by Kim Wilkie
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Click here to play video A Brighton Landscape by Kim Wilkie Landscape architect Kim Wilkie presents his Vision of A Brighton Landscape - his view on what the City Downland Estate could look like in 100 years’ time.
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Click here to play video A Brighton Landscape Q&A Session To accompany the video presentation of ‘A Brighton Landscape’ from Kim Wilkie, the following is a recording of a question and answer session between Kim and representatives from Savills which we hope provides more insight into his work and the rationale behind his thinking.
Public Engagement Stage 1 (Archive)
Webinar & Discussion Group Presentations
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Presentation Documents
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CDEP Webinar - Project update and next steps (1.1 MB) (pdf)
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Presentation of results of consultation so far 20.02.2021 (7.06 MB) (pdf)
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Chat Log Analysis 19.02.2021 (550 KB) (pdf)
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Keith Arnott (Savills) Presentation (8.05 MB) (pdf)
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Nick Heasman (SDNPA) Slides on the Whole Estate Plan (632 KB) (pdf)
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CDEP Update for share-holders 29.09.2021 (189 KB) (pdf)
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DAP sessions slides 29.09.2021 (148 KB) (pdf)
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PFR CDEP outputs and vision presentation (2.88 MB) (pdf)
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Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQ's
- Does the process extend to buying additional land for example to link up habitats?
- How could we maintain the chalk grassland habitat and prevent scrub from taking over?
- Can the amount of arable cultivation be reduced?
- How much of the estate can be given back to nature through rewildling?
- What is being done to address pollution by nitrates (nitrogen based fertilisers) of the water / aquifer?
- What is a nitrate vulnerable zone?
- Can the amount of chalk grassland be increased?
- What can be done to bring in organic or other forms of sustainable farming?
- How much carbon does chalk grassland store (sequester) – more or less than the equivalent area of woodland?
- What is regenerative farming?
- What is regenerative farming? How can BHCC specify the type of farming that is carried out by tenant farmers on its estate (for example organic, regenerative)?
- How can the Downland Estate be made easier to access across the A27?
- Is there scope for further tree planting or is the plan more about habitat (mainly chalk grassland) restoration?
- Does the Downland Estate make a surplus, break even or a loss at present?
- Are there any plans for housing or commercial development in the Downland Estate?
- How many tenant farmers are there and what are the terms of their leases?
- How long do the leases of the tenant farmers run for?
- What surveys / evidence / research are you basing your decisions on?
- How can cycle access be improved / managed?
- What measures are tenant farmers currently undertaking to improve wildlife natural habitats?
- What initiatives are there to engage children and young people in the Downland Estate at present?
- Can scrub also have value for wildlife?
- What types of renewable energy production are being considered for the Downland Estate – if any?
- How can the community be more involved as volunteers?
- What if any of the produce from Downland Estate farms is sold locally?
- How can conflicts between dog walkers, farmers, cyclists and other visitors be better managed?
- What other groups are involved in developing the WEP?
- What are the proposed changes to the EU farm subsidies post Brexit and how might that impact on the WEP?
- What is the potential for the current areas of open access land be extended?
- How is chalk grassland comparable with rainforest as a natural habitat?
Who's Listening
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Phone 01273 291462 Email stuart.boreham@brighton-hove.gov.uk