Better Billingshurst Community Fund and Investment Programme

Open Space and Play Improvements Consultation

Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent consultation on upcoming Open Space and Play Improvements in Billingshurst. We are currently reviewing and analysing the responses received and will be sharing this feedback with Billingshurst Parish Council. Your comments will help shape the design of these projects and ensure the improvements meet the needs of the local community, creating welcoming, accessible and inclusive spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Programme Background

Better Billingshurst is an investment programme to assist with the delivery of improvements to infrastructure and community facilities in Billingshurst.

Horsham District Council is committed to building thriving local communities and wants to provide improvements to the public realm and community facilities in Billingshurst.

Over the last two years, the Council has been working with Billingshurst Parish Council, local community groups and key stakeholders to develop a shortlist of potential infrastructure projects. The Better Billingshurst Background Report contains details of the research undertaken, identifying existing deficits and exploring a range of possible improvements, their feasibility, including an assessment of any constraints to delivery and the indicative project and ongoing revenue costs.

In Summer 2025 we ran a Public Consultation to find out which of these improvements you wanted to see. A report summarising the feedback received is available.

In February 2026 a Spending Panel formed of representatives from Horsham District Council, Billingshurst Parish Council and Billingshurst Community Partnership met to discuss which projects should be taken forward for investment (subject to further detailed assessment and design development).

Projects recommended for funding via the Better Billingshurst Fund:

• Upgrades to the Billingshurst Women’s Hall to improve accessibility and safety
• Provide the funding needed to apply to the Football Foundation to deliver a 3G pitch at Jubilee Fields
• A new seating area at Station Road Community Gardens
• Deliver changing room upgrades for women and girls and make improvements to the pavilion at Jubilee Fields
• Provide a new clubhouse at Billingshurst Bowling Club
• A new path at Lower Station Road Recreation Ground

The Council will work closely with key partners to bring forward the following projects forward via applications to use the funds available from developer contributions.

• Deliver drainage improvements at Jubilee Fields
• A new children’s play area at Jubilee Fields
• New sensory, natural and accessible play facilities for children
• A new pump track and seating area at Lower Station Road Recreation Ground
• Upgrades to existing parks and open spaces in Billingshurst Parish

Better Billingshurst Community Grant

Through the early-stage stakeholder engagement undertaken as a part of the Programme, the Council received numerous suggestions that would benefit local community groups and initiatives, but would not be considered infrastructure improvement projects which this Programme is designed to deliver.

Communities are built on the social ties and sense of place often created from local initiatives and led by people in their own community. In recognition of this, the Council set aside a small proportion of the fund to create a Community Grant to help fund these local initiatives.

Applications for the Better Billingshurst Community Grant were submitted from many worthy local organisations and community groups between July and September 2025 and reviewed in accordance with the Council’s Community Grants Policy.

The Council is pleased to report that  grant funding was awarded to the following local groups and initiatives.

• Billingshurst Bowling Club – for bowling green improvements, including specialist levelling and re-seeding works to improve playing conditions.
• Billingshurst Community Partnership – for its Open Gardens Project, helping to fund promotional materials, signage and maps for the annual Open Gardens Day, which attracted hundreds of visitors to explore private gardens, allotments and public spaces.
• Billingshurst Primary Academy Bees – for new outdoor play equipment and storage to enhance play opportunities for pupils.
• Billingshurst Primary Academy – to improve sensory garden spaces through a gardening initiative that helps pupils develop practical skills and supports outdoor learning.
• Billingshurst Women’s Hall – for repairs to play equipment and new seating within the Mothers Garden, a valued community space for local families.
• Horsham Matters – towards the running costs of its foodbank services, helping provide food, essential items and advice to residents in need.
• The Weald School – to support its Greenpower Racing Team, giving students the opportunity to design, build and race electric cars.

The total grant funding package exceeded £13,000.

Further information on the projects funded by the Community Grants, as well as the infrastructure improvements will be announced shortly, so please keep an eye out for future updates.

Programme Timeline

Further information