The administration of the planning system in the South Downs is, as elsewhere in the country, primarily the responsibility of the three County Councils, the eleven District, Borough and City Councils and one unitary authority with whose administrative areas the two AONBs overlap. Neither the Conservation Board nor the East Hampshire AONB Joint Advisory Committee are planning authorities - that is, neither actually prepare statutory development plans (structure plans and local plans) nor determine planning applications.

Both organisations are, however, consulted by the constituent authorities on significant planning applications within and adjacent to the boundary of their respective AONBs. They are also consulted on development plans and otherwise liaise with the local authorities. Through this process both the Board and JAC seek to ensure that the natural beauty and amenity of the two AONBs, and all the constituent features of that beauty, are protected, conserved and enhanced through the planning system. Neither organisation seeks to stifle development as such, but both seek to ensure that when development does take place, it is of a form that respects the character of the AONB and, hopefully, enhances it.

The consultation procedure differs between the Board and the JAC, reflecting their different organisations and staffing. The Board is consulted by the twelve local authorities in East and West Sussex under the terms of an agreed scheme, which specifies the types of applications on which the Board should be consulted. The Board has a Planning Officer, a major part of whose job it is to respond to these consultations.

The most significant applications are reported to the Board's Planning Committee, which meets every month and comprises members of the Board. The number of consultations per year to the Board has increased significantly since its inception and is currently approximately 400 per year.

The JAC does not have a Planning Officer so the responses to consultations are handled by the AONB Officer. Local authorities consult the JAC on any significant applications, currently between 30 and 40 per year. The Planning Panel, comprising JAC members, meets roughly every 6 weeks to discuss applications, making comments on the most significant applications.

Both the Board and the JAC recognise the importance of the statutory development plan in the planning system, particularly as applications for planning permission should be determined in accordance with the adopted development plan unless material (particularly significant) considerations dictate otherwise. Both organisations therefore endeavour to ensure that the development plans contain strong clear policies to protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty and amenity of the two AONBs.

The Board and JAC have jointly produced the "South Downs Planning Guidelines", a non-statutory set of principles and considerations for different types of development that the two organisations seek to promote in the operation of the planning system. The Guidelines are intended to ensure that the Board and the JAC are consistent in their responses to consultations and planning applications. They also alert both the local planning authorities and prospective applicants to the range of concerns that the organisations may have with the type of development proposed.

In addition, the two AONBs have Landscape Assessments and studies identifying the more tranquil areas, which are used in the assessment of planning applications. The Board and JAC both promote local distinctiveness - the character of an area that makes it special and distinctive - and the organisations intend to work with the local authorities to develop design guidance for the South Downs to conserve and enhance that character.