Glynde Whole Estate Plan – a foundation for the future

Whole estate plan endorsement marks an important milestone

Endorsement by the National Park is an important milestone, meaning that the Glynde Whole Estate Plan is now a ‘material consideration’ in determining planning applications submitted by the estate for development that enables the delivery of the objectives and related benefits set out in the plan.

The whole estate plan (WEP) making process and resulting document means there is a clear understanding by the Planning Authority of the context for development proposals - the overall aims and needs of the estate, the benefits to be delivered, and contribution to the National Park’s priorities from estate-led development.

While having an endorsed WEP does not guarantee that planning permission will be granted, and any proposal will still need to comply with relevant development plan policies, having an estate-wide masterplan will help guide the decision-making process and creates a positive context for estate-led development proposals.

A robust framework for the future of the estate

The production of the plan was delayed by Covid, but that frustration has allowed for the evolution of a plan which has been able to respond to new influences and priorities and provides a robust framework to guide the future of the estate and how it may respond to ongoing challenges and opportunities.

Nick Jones, the Agent for Glynde Estates, commented:

"We are delighted that the SDNP Planning & Resources Committee have now endorsed our WEP. This is the culmination of work that began prior to the Covid crisis. Particular credit must go to Rob Hindle and his colleagues at Rural Solutions for leading the process and for their valued advice throughout.

"Thanks also to our team of staff, members of our local communities and wider stakeholders for their engagement and input into what has been an insightful, thought provoking and important strategic project.

"We are similarly grateful for the advice and support offered up by the officers and members of the SDNP and look forward to working closely with them in the years ahead as we seek to realise our visions and contribute to the wider policies and outcomes set out in their Partnership Management Plan."

Vanessa Rowlands, Chair of the SDNPA, explains why the endorsed WEP is such a crucial step for the estate:

“As part of the WEP process, we took the time to really understand the issues the estate faces in managing its assets, many of which are heritage buildings in need of repair and to consider the benefits the estate is already delivering locally.

"The Glynde Plan considers how to respond to these issues and will help the estate establish solid foundations for people who live and work on the estate today, and for generations to come and will guide our engagement with the estate in the coming years.”

A journey of change and shift towards nature recovery

The influences and opportunities for rural estates are constantly shifting and throughout the plan making journey, the estate has been able to respond to these, and to ensure the Plan reflects the necessary emphasis on nature recovery.

Rob Hindle, Executive Director at Rural Solutions explains, “with the transfer from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidy payment system to Environmental Land Management (ELMS), the focus on nature recovery has increased, along with a move to nature-friendly farming.

“What is achievable under ELMS has been one driver, but it is not solely due to this that we have seen a shift in thinking. How people feel about nature, policy-led recognition to the nature crisis, and the commitment of the Estate Principals to their environmental responsibilities has also increased.

“An estate-wide masterplan, and the process to deliver one is hugely beneficial for the estate, and its stakeholders. It is not only about ensuring a positive future for those who live and work on the estate, but how to ensure the environment and landscape is protected too.”

Read the Glynde WEP submission document here.

Rural Solutions and the value of the plan making process

Rural Solutions specialises in creating strategies for the management of rural land and property portfolios.

Estate strategies and masterplans provide the context and evidence for decisions around land and property management and development. They can help to:

• set out a clear vision and plan to achieve it
• aid decision-making
• support succession and transition
• engage stakeholders
• articulate the positive contribution the estate is making

By defining an estate-wide masterplan, individual development projects can be presented as part of a holistic whole, as can the benefits they will deliver.

A growing portfolio of masterplans

The Glynde Estates project is Rural Solutions’ most recent ‘major’ WEP. Others include Wiston Estate and Barlavington Estate, as well as Lancing College in West Sussex, and the iconic Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire.

Of the nine WEPs endorsed by the SDNPA, Rural Solutions has been involved in three of them. This significant achievement is largely due to Rob, who, is widely recognised as a leading exponent in the sector.

Even where the Planning Authority does not have a formal ‘WEP’ policy in place, estate scale strategic planning is a highly beneficial exercise, as Rob explains:

“There is considerable value in the plan making process as well as the output and the discipline of holistic whole estate planning is as relevant now as it was nearly ten years ago.

“The WEP process has responded to the change in the way estate view their environmental assets and how they farm, the ever-changing priorities in national policy, and the shifting requirements and priorities in land management.”

Find out more

Estate strategies and masterplans set out a clear plan for the estate principal and management team to deliver against or enable a specific aim such as a strategic land allocation or enabling development outcome.

Read more about our approach to estate-scale strategies here or call us 01756 797501 for a chat.

Images (c) Glynde Estate