Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] have reacted with dismay at news that the Government has given permission for a 22,000 capacity football stadium [2] at Falmer in the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Richard Allden, CPRE Sussex Planning Officer said ‘The decision by the Government to allow a football stadium to be built at Falmer is a sad blow to everyone [3] who loves the Sussex Downs.  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are meant to be given the highest level of protection in planning law [4] so it’s disgraceful that this development had been given permission when it will damage the very landscape that should be protected.’ 

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club submitted a planning application to build a new stadium in 1999 and this was approved by the local planning authority in 2002.  Huge public opposition meant that the Government required two public inquiries into the development [5] with the resulting decision that the building work can now go ahead [6].

Natural England, the Government’s statutory advisor on landscape protection, also came out strongly against the development at Falmer, alongside CPRE, Lewes District Council, Falmer Parish Council and many local residents. 

Part of the Falmer stadium site was in the original South Downs National Park boundary.  A public inquiry has taken place [7] to investigate whether there should be a South Downs National Park and the Inspector has recommended that the parcel of land for the stadium should be removed from the National Park boundary [8].  This proposal is now subject to public consultation.

Richard Allden continued ‘When we saw the Inspector’s recommendation that the land for Falmer stadium should be excluded from the National Park we feared that this could be used to try and justify permission for the stadium.  What people are forgetting is that it will still be within the AONB and right next to the National Park boundary and so the impacts will be felt for miles around.’

Emma Marrington, CPRE’s Rural Policy Campaigner agreed ‘The area is still relatively tranquil and this will be damaged irreparably.  There will be more pressure on local transport infrastructure and yet another new source of light pollution [9].  The saying ‘death by a thousand cuts’ is certainly true for the South Downs today.’  
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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.  Sussex Branch has over 2,000 members with 11 districts representing members across the County.

2. Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club first applied for the stadium at Falmer in 1999. 

3.  There are 32 million day visits to the South Downs each year.  A recent vote carried out by the BBC Politics Show in March 2007 found 95% public support for a South Downs National Park.

4.  The Government’s own Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas states that AONBs and National Parks have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty (paragraph 21).  It also states that major development should not take place in these designated areas except in exceptional circumstances (paragraph 22).  CPRE stands by its view that the Falmer Stadium case is not such a circumstance.  A copy of PPS7 can be viewed:  http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1143823 

5.  The local planning authority, Brighton and Hove City Council, decided that permission for the stadium should be granted in June 2002.  Due to strong opposition the Government called the decision in and held a public inquiry in 2003.  Towards the end of 2003 recommendations were made to the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.  One of the two inspectors’ reports was leaked, recommending the refusal of the Falmer site. 

6.  Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced the decision that building could begin at the Falmer site on 24 July 2007.  The full decision can be viewed (after midday) at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1502386

7.  A Designation Order for a South Downs National Park was submitted by the Countryside Agency to the Secretary of State in January 2003.  A public inquiry into the Order ran from November 2003 to March 2005. 

8.  The Planning Inspector’s report from the inquiry was published on 2nd July 2007.  The parcel of land where the Falmer Stadium transport interchange would have been within the designated boundary has been recommended for removal in the Inspectors report.  The stadium and transport interchange would still be within the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and encroach on the beauty and tranquillity of the future South Downs National Park.  A map illustrating the suggested national park boundary changes can be viewed:  http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Images/Map%2032_tcm2-31753.pdf

9.  Light pollution in East Sussex increased by 14% between 1993 and 2000.  More information on CPRE’s light pollution campaign can be found: http://www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/landscape/light-pollution