Henfield was recently chosen to pilot an exciting new Parish Energy Plan (PEP), a hyper-local initiative designed to help communities cut carbon, save money, and embrace cleaner technologies. This project, funded by Horsham District Council, has been delivered by Community Energy Pathways (CEP) in partnership with Henfield Parish Council.
The Trial
Community Energy Pathways (formerly Community Energy South) ran hands-on workshops that used real data on local energy use and costs so that people can explore what’s possible for their area — from making homes more efficient to building energy independence. The resulting Parish Energy Plan will provide residents with a clear picture of their options, such as solar panels, air source heat pumps, and electric vehicles, alongside guidance on grants and financing.
Progress so far
The project began in November 2025 and concluded in February 2026. Council representatives attended these workshops to show support and learn from the process. They commented:
“Horsham District Council are really pleased to be working with Community Energy Pathways (CEP), funding this hyper-local energy plan trial for a Parish in the Horsham district.
"Community Energy Pathways bring a wealth of experience to the table, and we believe this really supports our climate action and energy planning work with communities in helping decarbonise the Horsham district.”
This trial is part of a wider ambition. If successful, similar plans could be rolled out across other parishes, feeding into Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) for Sussex.
Community Energy Pathways (CEP)
Community energy is about people working together to generate electricity locally using renewable technologies that both reduce carbon emissions and save money.
Community Energy Pathways are one of the pioneers of the UK’s community energy sector – they have been advising and supporting communities to transition to a low-carbon and sustainable future since 2013. They recently were awarded the King’s Award for Sustainable Development 2025. The award is received for CEP's ’ work in empowering local communities to deliver locally owned, low carbon energy, reduce their energy bills and support those people left behind in the energy crisis. Read more about CEP's work.