Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Key Takeaways
- A legally unsound local plan has left Horsham’s future development strategy in limbo.
- The Planning Inspectorate flagged failures in cross-boundary cooperation and water neutrality evidence.
- Housing delivery targets, affordable homes, and infrastructure upgrades may now face lengthy delays.
- Debate about local government restructuring has intensified amid calls for clearer accountability.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Planning Inspectorate’s decision to strike down Horsham District Council’s draft local plan has left residents, developers, and councillors asking the same question: what happens now? The legally non-compliant verdict halts a strategy designed to guide housing, infrastructure, and environmental policy through 2040.
Background of the Local Plan
The rejected draft set out a roadmap for sustainable growth between 2023 and 2040. Among its ambitions were:
- Delivering approximately 1,000 homes per year, including much-needed affordable units.
- Coordinating new roads, schools, and community facilities alongside development.
- Embedding strict environmental safeguards such as water neutrality and low-carbon building standards.
Balancing population growth with ecological constraints was always the plan’s tightrope walk—but the inspector concluded the council slipped.
Reasons for Rejection
- Legal compliance concerns
• Duty to Cooperate: engagement with adjacent councils was deemed “not constructive or active.”
• Insufficient evidence of shared strategies on cross-boundary housing pressure. - Environmental shortcomings
• The Sussex North Offsetting Water Strategy (SNOWS) lacked proof it could secure water neutrality.
• Potential risk to local chalk streams and wildlife habitats. - Policy adaptability
• Little flexibility to absorb new Government guidance or shifting housing forecasts.
Council’s Response
Describing the verdict as “hugely disappointing,” council leader Martin Boffey confirmed that Horsham has:
- Formally challenged the inspector’s approach and raised matters with the Planning & Housing Minister.
- Launched an urgent internal review to diagnose weaknesses.
- Pledged to publish a revised plan at pace.
The authority also highlighted coverage such as Council Disappointed in Planning Inspector to evidence wider concern over the decision.
Implications for Local Development
Uncertainty now shadows dozens of pending applications. Without an adopted plan:
- Developers may experience prolonged determination periods and unpredictable appeal outcomes.
- Affordable housing pipelines risk stalling just as local need intensifies.
- Infrastructure funding tied to new schemes—roads, health centres, school places—could be delayed.
- Neighbouring councils may pressure Horsham to absorb extra housing numbers, compounding strain.
“The rejection creates a planning vacuum that benefits nobody—least of all the families waiting for homes,” said one local housing association manager.
Local Government Reorganisation Debate
The setback has reignited talk of restructuring local government to streamline regional planning. Proponents argue a unitary model could:
- Remove bureaucratic overlaps that hinder joint strategies.
- Pool expertise to tackle complex requirements like water neutrality.
Yet council leaders warn that reshaping institutions while fixing a plan risks “changing the engine mid-flight.”
Next Steps and Timeline
The examination was formally paused following the inspector’s April 2025 interim findings letter. Forthcoming milestones include:
- Policy & Scrutiny Committees debating preferred options this summer.
- A Cabinet verdict pencilled in for August.
- Potential pathways: lodge a legal challenge, withdraw and re-submit, or craft a wholly new plan.
Whether Horsham can restore soundness quickly—or endures years of limbo—remains uncertain.
Conclusion
The plan’s rejection underscores how duty to cooperate obligations and environmental safeguards now sit at the heart of English planning. Horsham District Council must navigate a tight timeline, rebuild trust with neighbours, and evidence genuine water neutrality. The coming months will reveal whether the district can transform setback into a blueprint that marries growth with guardianship of precious natural resources.
FAQs
Why was Horsham’s local plan deemed “unsound”?
The inspector cited failures in the statutory Duty to Cooperate and inadequate evidence that proposed growth could be delivered without harming water resources.
Does the rejection stop all development?
No, individual applications can still be considered, but the absence of an adopted plan injects additional uncertainty and may slow decision-making.
How long will it take to produce a new plan?
If Horsham opts for a rapid revision, officials hint at an 18-24 month turnaround, though legal challenges could extend the process.
Could local government reorganisation solve the issue?
Supporters say a larger unitary authority could streamline planning, yet sceptics warn the transition itself may cause fresh delays.
Where can I read the inspector’s full findings?
The interim findings letter is available on Horsham District Council’s website alongside committee papers discussing the response.