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Chichester Planning Applications: A 2026 Guide for West Sussex

Bhavesh Ramburn

Chichester planning applications: which authority handles yours?

If you are searching for a planning application in Chichester (the cathedral city), Midhurst, Petworth, Selsey, East Wittering, West Wittering, Bosham, Fishbourne, or any of the villages and rural areas of the Chichester district, the responsible Local Planning Authority (LPA) is Chichester District Council. The council is a non-metropolitan district in West Sussex and operates its own planning service separate from West Sussex County Council (which handles minerals, waste, education, and county matters).

The planning service can be accessed via the Planning service page. Application search, application submission, and pre-application advice are linked from there.

Note: parts of the Chichester district fall inside the South Downs National Park. Properties in those areas are decided by the South Downs National Park Authority, not Chichester District Council. The boundary generally follows the line of the South Downs scarp.

How the English planning system applies in Chichester

Chichester is in England, so the primary statute is the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, supplemented by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (the GPDO) which grants Permitted Development rights for certain categories of building work.

For most residents this means:

  • Permitted Development allows a range of small extensions, outbuildings, and alterations without a formal application, subject to the GPDO limits and any local restrictions.
  • Anything outside PD requires a formal application to Chichester District Council, determined under the local development plan.
  • Applications are submitted through the Planning Portal, which hosts the standard 1APP forms and the fee calculator.

For the broader PD framework that governs what you can build in Chichester without applying, see our guide on Permitted Development Rights in 2026.

How to view or comment on a current Chichester planning application

Public access to the live application register is a statutory right under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Chichester operates a public-access planning register that lists all live and decided cases:

You can also use the Planning Portal for national searches. Members of the public have at least 21 days from the date an application is advertised (site notice and/or neighbour letter) to submit written comments. Comments must relate to material planning considerations — impact on amenity, design, traffic, ecology, residential amenity, heritage, or compliance with the local development plan. Comments that are vexatious or relate solely to private disputes (boundary walls, party walls, loss of a view) cannot be taken into account.

Application fees and statutory timelines

Application fees in England are set centrally by the Town and Country Planning (Fees) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended). Indicative fees for the most common Chichester application types in 2026:

  • Householder application (extensions and alterations to an existing dwelling): £258.
  • Full planning permission for a new dwelling: £541 plus £162 for each additional dwelling.
  • Change of use: varies by class, typically £541 or higher.
  • Prior notification / prior approval (where applicable under the GPDO 2015): £120.
  • Listed Building Consent (where the property is statutorily listed): £293.

The statutory determination period is 8 weeks for householder and most local applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and 13 weeks for major developments (defined under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015). Chichester generally meets these targets but can extend via a further-information request that pauses the clock.

Conservation areas in Chichester

Chichester has a substantial stock of historic towns and conservation areas, reflecting the district’s position on the south coast and the South Downs. Designated Conservation Areas include:

  • Chichester city centre — the historic walled cathedral city, with Chichester Cathedral, the Guildhall, and many listed buildings.
  • Midhurst — a historic market town on the River Rother, with a Conservation Area.
  • Petworth — a historic market town dominated by Petworth House (a National Trust property), with a Conservation Area.
  • Selsey — a coastal town with a Conservation Area.
  • West Wittering — a coastal village with a Conservation Area.
  • Bosham — a coastal village with a Conservation Area, including the Saxon church featured on the Bayeux Tapestry.
  • Fishbourne — a village with a Conservation Area, including the famous Roman Palace.
  • East Lavant — a village on the edge of Chichester with a Conservation Area.

Within a Conservation Area:

  • Six weeks’ notice is required before any work to a tree.
  • Permitted Development rights are restricted for external alterations, cladding, and demolition.
  • Listed Building Consent is required separately for any alteration affecting the character of a listed building.

For the underlying householder-application context — which is the most common Chichester application type — see our guide on householder planning permission for a garden office. For the broader UK LPA portal landscape, see our Bradford planning portal guide.

Cross-boundary: South Downs National Park

A substantial part of the Chichester district — including parts of Midhurst, Petworth, West Dean, Singleton, and the South Downs escarpment — lies inside the South Downs National Park. Planning applications in those areas are decided by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), not Chichester District Council, because national parks in England have their own planning authority.

If your property is in the National Park boundary, you must apply to the SDNPA via its planning service page. The same statutory 8-week and 13-week determination periods apply, but the SDNPA’s policies (the South Downs Local Plan) are different from Chichester’s.

Next steps and resources

Editorial note. This article is for guidance only and does not constitute regulated advice. Chichester is a non-metropolitan district in West Sussex; parts of the district fall inside the South Downs National Park and are decided by the SDNPA, not Chichester District Council. For project-specific questions, consult a chartered planning professional registered with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).