Horsham District update December 2025

Welcome to your 2025 recap for Horsham District!

This year has been one of the toughest for the countryside yet, with government policy and rhetoric turning powerfully against nature and wildlife. Sussex’s landscapes are now under active attack, and sadly Horsham District is no exception.

As we end 2025, we’re taking the time to reflect on the current status quo: considering the state of play of the district’s Local Plan and pledging our commitment to continue to stand against the development west of Ifield.

An update from CPRE Sussex Planning lead Dr Roger Smith on Horsham District Local Plan: a massive housing target and additional site allocations in prospect

Background

The Examination in Public (EiP) of the proposed Horsham District Local Plan 2023/2040 by Planning Inspector Luke Fleming, commenced 10 December 2024, was paused 12 December and further hearings cancelled by the Inspector on 16 December, because he had “significant concerns about the soundness and legal compliance of the Plan, which he would detail in a separate letter as soon as he could”.

His ‘concerns’ were influenced by developers, and the publication mid-morning 12 December of the Government’s revised NPPF together with their new mandatory minimum local housing need (LHN) targets – Horsham’s increased from 911 to 1357 pa (1357 pa x 17 yrs = 23069).

The expected letter, received in April 2024, informed Horsham District Council (HDC) that the Plan was not Legally Compliant – the Duty to Cooperate had not been met, and he had “considerable soundness concerns in relation to the Plan’s housing requirements and spatial strategy”. He recommended that HDC withdraw their plan, and “focus its resources on rapidly preparing a new Local Plan”.

Significant changes in circumstances relevant to the Examination: Inspector to meet with HDC, February 2025

Fast forward to the present, and the Inspector’s letter to HDC, dated 28 November 2025, drew attention to “significant changes in circumstances relevant to the Examination”  – the Government’s intention to “shortly” abolish the Duty to Cooperate for “the existing plan-making system”, and to Natural England’s withdrawal of the requirement for Water Neutrality.

https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planning/local-plan

He advised that should the Council wish “to resume the hearings and continue the Examination … it will be necessary and useful to hold a procedural/exploratory meeting” with them “to explore the implications for the Examination of the Government’s intent to abolish the Duty to Cooperate. Furthermore, such a meeting would also give the Council the opportunity to set out its understanding of the scope of any necessary main modifications to address matters of soundness already discussed and how long any associated work may take to complete”.

He also advised that because the Local Plan falls “short of its minimum housing need when assessed using the standard method”, “there may now be a need to identify new sites to meet that need which are not allocated in the Plan. The scope of the work necessary to make the Local Plan sound could therefore be significant. For example, it could require consultation, new evidence and significant updates to the existing evidence base”.

He concluded by proposing “an exploratory/procedural meeting” in February 2026.

In reply (4 December), HDC confirmed its wish to continue the Examination and its agreement to the proposed meeting in February, date to be agreed.

Ifield development

We have been proud to stand against this crazy development based west of Ifield, near Crawley. The application is for a whopping nearly 3000 new dwellings, a major new road, school and industrial, commercial and business development. The application is shoddily put together, and would see existing wetland and floodplain habitats at risk and nature harmed. The rural landscape would be destroyed and new residents subject to the considerable noise pollution from nearby Gatwick Airport. We also have strong concerns that the application would not deliver the requisite amount of affordable social housing. And to top it off, the existing foul water network does not have the capacity to support the development!

Dr Roger Smith submitted the CPRE Sussex objection, which you can read here. The application is still being considered by Horsham District Council, and you can count on us following it very closely.

Thank you

We are so grateful for all of your support in 2025. It’s been an especially tough year for the countryside, nature, climate and our beautiful landscapes, with a government that has seemingly declared war on the environment in both rhetoric and policy. It’s down to the support of people like you that we can continue to stand up and defend Sussex’s green spaces. Thank you for helping us to stand up for the Sussex countryside. We look forward to defending it, together, in 2026!

PS – don’t forget that you can give the gift of CPRE membership this Christmas!

Do you know somebody who loves the Sussex countryside as much as you do? And do you want to give a gift that lasts all year long?

You can buy individual or household CPRE Sussex membership as a gift. As you know, membership comes with a host of benefits including discounts on events and access to houses and gardens across the county – plus the knowledge that you are helping to shape a greener future for Sussex.

Give the gift of CPRE membership.