Joint Neighbourhood Plan Area Approved by Horsham District Council
Horsham District Council has now approved the application to designate a Joint Southwater and Shipley Neighbourhood Area.
The Regulation 5 application was submitted by Southwater Parish Council, with the consent of Shipley Parish Council, and covers the full parish boundaries of both Southwater and Shipley.
The decision was made by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure on 9 September 2026.
The decision notice and supporting appendices can be viewed on Horsham District Council’s website here.
What does this mean?
The approval means that the existing separate neighbourhood areas for Southwater and Shipley have been combined into one joint neighbourhood area covering both parishes.
This designation allows the two parish councils to begin the formal process of preparing a Joint Neighbourhood Plan, subject to both councils working together and following the statutory neighbourhood planning process.
It is important to note that this decision does not approve any development and does not, by itself, allocate sites or change existing made Neighbourhood Plan planning policies. It simply confirms the area that a future Joint Neighbourhood Plan would cover.
What happens to the existing Neighbourhood Plans?
The existing Southwater Neighbourhood Plan and Shipley Neighbourhood Plan remain in force unless and until they are replaced through the full statutory process.
Any future Joint Neighbourhood Plan would need to go through the required stages, including evidence gathering, community engagement, consultation, independent examination and referendum before it could be formally made.
Publication of the decision
In accordance with Regulation 7 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations, Horsham District Council has publicised the designation decision and associated documents on its website.
This includes:
the name of the designated neighbourhood area;
a map showing the area covered; and
the name of the relevant body that applied for the designation.
Residents are encouraged to view the decision and accompanying appendices.
Further information
Further updates on the Joint Neighbourhood Plan process will be shared as the work progresses on our dedicated website: https://shipleysouthwaternp.uk/
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