The South Downs Local Plan (SDLP) was adopted on 02 July 2019. The introduction to the SDLP sets out the context of the statutory purposes and duty that govern all national park activities. In carrying out its purposes, the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities within the National Park. The English National Parks Vision and Circular further sets out the Government’s expectation that new housing will be focused on meeting affordable housing requirements, supporting local employment opportunities and key services. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) further sets out that the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community should be assessed and reflected in planning policies, including those who require affordable housing.

There is substantial evidence which shows that most privately provided residential property in the National Park has become unaffordable to families and individuals on modest incomes. House prices within the National Park are significantly higher than in the wider sub-region, with the average house being sold costing some fourteen times the average salary (compared to around eight times average salary across England and Wales as a whole). The result is that more people and families are struggling to meet the cost of accommodation, and younger people in particular are discouraged from remaining or settling in the area.