Our Progress So Far

• We have established a Community Climate Fund to provide grant funding to local voluntary and community groups aiming to reduce their carbon emissions and achieve net zero, thereby encouraging community engagement and action. Read about our successful recipients so far.
• We have also established a Nature Recovery Award with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, as part of the Wilder Horsham District project, which offers grant funding to support practical schemes to support wildlife networks across the District. See who has already received an award and why
• Our Buy Local, Gift Happy campaign encourages residents to shop locally, reducing carbon emissions by reducing product travel and packaging, especially for locally produced and sold items. The Council's climate action webpages are under regular review and updated to help inspire more community action.
• A Climate Action Blog has been established to share community news, activities, funding awards, and application deadlines. This information is also shared on social media platforms. In 2021, a Climate Action e-newsletter was launched for public subscribers, parishes, and District councillors. Sign up to receive it.
• In 2022, workshops were conducted with parishes across the District to explore collaborative efforts to decrease emissions, and a network has now formed with interested Parish and Neighbourhood Councils to support them in climate action.

Home energy reduction

Our Environmental Health team assists eligible households in reducing energy bills and heating their homes through energy-saving visits, partnering with an energy-efficient organisation with funding available. Find out more on our energy saving page.

Home Energy Conservation Act Report

For information on the energy conservation measures taken to enhance the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in Horsham District, read our Home Energy Conservation Act Report.

Solar energy for homes

We have collaborated with West Sussex County Council to support the Sussex Solar Together scheme, aiming to help homeowners reduce their carbon emissions by installing high-quality solar panels at a reduced cost, contributing to Horsham District’s journey to achieving net zero.

Our Horsham District Local Plan 2023-2040 Regulation 19, which councillors approved on 11^th December 2023, has stronger environmental standards than our previous Plan. It aims to tighten energy efficiency standards in new homes, support renewable and low carbon technology, and include net biodiversity gain, water neutrality, and improved air quality requirements in new developments.

Electric Vehicles

We are working with other councils across West Sussex County to install a large-scale network of electric vehicle charging points to meet the increasing number of electric vehicles expected in the coming years due to the Government's decision to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars after 2035. Read our media release about this major electric vehicle charging point project.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure

In November 2020, we adopted our first Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), aiming to increase walking within Horsham town centre and school children's walking percentage, improve routes into town from surrounding settlements, and ultimately, reduce carbon emissions. The plan also strengthens the Council's position in government bidding for cycling and walking improvement grants. Read the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Next steps for the Horsham Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

• The LCWIP will be integrated into West Sussex County Council's cycling and walking network.
• West Sussex County Council plans to prioritise routes for funding, including external contributions, and review the West Sussex Walking & Cycling Strategy, based on a combined list of LCWIP routes.

Reduced consumption and reuse are crucial for reducing carbon emissions, as greenhouse gas emissions are generated from energy and resource use in production, transportation, and landfill decomposition of biodegradable waste. We are already in the top 20 recycling districts in the country. Following investment in new vehicles and facilities, we now have the highest recycling rate in West Sussex, with the aim to increase it to above 55%. Find out more on our recycling pages.