The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) goes live on 1 April 2011 when it takes up its statutory responsibility for leading and planning the future of the UKs newest National Park. Writes Andrew Ferrier from the Jackson Stops & Staff Midhurst office, which will be at the heart of this new National Park: "The setting up of the South Downs National Park has major implications for how we live, work and go about our leisure in West Sussex and Hampshire. The SDNPA includes several major towns and has a population of over 100,000 people. It will also be one of the largest planning authorities in the country, dealing with over 4,000 applications a year. As an established estate agency in West Sussex and Hampshire, Jackson Stops & Staff is well placed to advise clients on what implications this new National Park will have on buying or selling property, as well as developing sites across the region. We have experienced agents in our Midhurst, Arundel, and Chichester offices who will be happy to talk you through what are the likely ramifications of having this new planning authority.