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Building a thriving local economy - Annual Plan 2025-2026

A fresh vision for Horsham District

Building a thriving local economy

Our District will be known as an easy place to do business. We’ll work to overcome challenges and keep our high streets thriving, both in Horsham town and across the district.

Council Plan Priorities 2023-2027

Click on each priority to see specific actions, goals and targets in our Annual Plan for 2025-2026 below.

  1. Fast-track new businesses with start-up packages and pop-up shops.
  2. Support flexible workers with hot-desking and meeting facilities.
  3. Help deliver Horsham’s first Business Improvement District.
  4. Pursue public realm improvements in our towns and villages.
  5. Promote business and culture with new events.
  6. Improve digital access in rural areas.
  7. Campaign for improvements in public transport.
  8. Promote Horsham District as a destination for food and drink tourism.
  9. Support initiatives to help people find work.

Read the Annual Plan for 2024-2025

Read the Annual Plan for 2023-2024

Annual Plan 2025-2026

  1. Fast track new businesses with start-up packages and pop-up shops.
    • Investigate using business rates pool monies to develop additional start- up industrial units.

      Action completed

    • Deliver an extended 2025/26 Shared Prosperity Fund programme to drive implementation of Enterprising Horsham.

      Action completed

    • Work with West Sussex County Council to ensure the County Growth Hub is effectively delivered across Horsham District.

      Action completed

    • Develop sector specific support plans with an initial focus on the visitor economy and land-based sector (farming, viticulture, food and drink).

      Action completed

  2. Support flexible workers with hot-desking and meeting facilities.
    • Seek opportunities to use Council owned buildings and identify buildings in rural areas and Horsham town centre for potential co-working venues.

      Closed

      An Albery House hire agreement policy for use of the meeting rooms is being developed.

      As changes take place with property assets, we will continue to consider the co-working use.

  3. Help deliver Horsham’s first Business Improvement District (BID).
    • Establish and run an external Economic Development Group with representatives from the Council and businesses to ensure a collaborative approach in supporting and sustaining the local economy.

      Action completed

  4. Pursue public realm improvements in our towns and villages.
    • Start implementation of public realm improvements in Horsham Bishopric.

      In Progress

      Design changes have been made following original consultation. The Communities and Place Policy and Scrutiny Committee will be consulted further to finalise the detailed designs.

    • Consult on and start building public realm improvements and accessible travel options in Blackhorse Way, Horsham.

      In Progress

      Project Manager and Project Sponsor are assessing options. This has been reprofiled into the 2027/28 capital programme.

    • Consult on infrastructure developments in Billingshurst with a programme to start work in 2026/27.

      Action completed

  5. Promote business and culture with new events.
    • Agree and drive forward a new Growth Deal with County to include Horsham Enterprise Park, Mowbray, Southwater and Billingshurst.

      Action completed

    • Work with the Gatwick Diamond Strategic Economic Partnership to develop an inward investment offer to promote the District and its key employment sites, infrastructure, and investment requirements.

      Action completed

    • Promote Horsham Enterprise Park and Mowbray as the key strategic employment sites for the District as part of the newly adopted Local Plan.

      Action completed

  6. Improve digital access in rural areas.
    • Work with the Rural Digital Connectivity Project Board to put forward proposals for a continuation of a voucher scheme for residents when the second implementation phase of the Government’s Building Digital UK Gigabit Project is known.

      On Hold

      National procurement is being run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and is called ‘Project Gigabit’.

      The initial build area is not due to be in the Horsham District in the early part of this new project.

    • Work with the Growing Sussex 5G Innovation Region Project to expand the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s pilot scheme to develop future farming and growing practices that increase sustainable food and drink productivity in the District.

      Action completed

  7. Campaign for improvements in public transport.
    • Initiate conversations to try to improve public transport provision at strategic sites.

      Action completed

  8. Promote Horsham District as a destination for food and drink tourism.
    • Develop and promote the Plate Up Local project to get more local produce on local menus and shop shelves, to support growth in tourism and quality of life offer to help attract and retain investment, businesses, and workers.

      Action completed

  9. Support initiatives to help people find work.
    • Deliver a focused skills fair to meet the needs of local businesses and connect local people to job opportunities.

      Action completed

    • Work with West Sussex County Council to deliver the County Careers Hub across the District.

      Action completed

    • Work with partners to support under-employed groups of people into jobs (refugees, care leavers, people with disabilities, neuro-diverse people, veterans, and ex-offenders).

      Action completed