The current Chichester Harbour Management Plan 2014-19 will be replaced by a new plan covering the 2019-2024 period.  Consultation on a draft plan took place in summer-autumn 2018 and the final plan will be adopted by the four local authorities, including the County Council, from 1 April 2019.

 The current High Weald AONB Management Plan 2014-19 will be replaced by a new plan covering the 2019-2024 period.  Consultation on a draft plan took place in summer 2018 and the final plan will be adopted by the 15 local authorities, including the County Council, before end March 2019.

There are two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in West Sussex: Chichester Harbour and the High Weald.  

 There is a duty on the constituent local authorities to prepare a Management Plan that ‘formulates their policy for the management of their area of outstanding natural beauty and for the carrying out of their functions in relation to it’.  The duty is also to review adopted and published management plans at intervals of not more than five years.