Inspiring greener futures - Annual Plan 2024-2025
A fresh vision for Horsham District
Inspiring greener futures
We aim to be a net zero council by 2030 and a net zero district by 2050. Horsham District will be held in high regard for best practice in rewilding, regenerative farming and recycling.
Council Plan Priorities 2023-2027
Click on each priority to see specific actions, goals and targets in our Annual Plan for 2024-2025 below.
- Deliver a Local Plan which sets higher environmental standards including net zero building, green gaps and addressing water neutrality.
- Show the way to net zero through engagement with our community and our emerging Climate Action Strategy.
- Create nature diverse places for people to live in.
- Investigate the benefits and opportunities of Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon credits for Horsham District Council and landowners in the District.
- Help businesses and residents to waste less and recycle more.
- Create safer routes for cycling and walking.
- Help residents and businesses to cut carbon emissions and water usage.
- Assist residents and businesses with the insulation of homes and premises.
- Support residents and businesses in switching to green technologies.
Annual Plan 2024-2025
- Deliver a Local Plan which sets higher environmental standards including net zero building, green gaps and addressing water neutrality.
- Develop an offsetting scheme for water neutrality to enable development to start coming forward.
Action completed
- Develop an offsetting scheme for water neutrality to enable development to start coming forward.
- Show the way to Net Zero through the actions the Council is taking to reduce its emissions, engaging with our community and our Climate Action Strategy.
- Continue to implement the Council’s internal carbon reduction programme.
Action completed
- Ensure all vehicles purchased for the Council fleet emit very low carbon or are electric.
Action completed
- Improve the information and advice for residents and businesses on climate change actions and expand the communication channels that are used.
Action completed
- Expand and embed the Parish and Neighbourhood Climate Action Network.
Action completed
- Decarbonise and retrofit three Horsham District Council owned homes.
Action not yet complete
Works completed on two houses in 2024/25.
Other houses identified but issues regarding access due to high demand for housing.
- Investigate options to decarbonise Park House, Horsham.
Action not yet complete
Review of facility is taking place in April 2025. The investigation is underway and we are waiting on the report coming back to us. The works are expected this year following the report.
- Replace the lighting in Horsham Park and Council owned properties with energy efficient lighting.
Action not yet complete
Project delayed due to materials not arriving on time from manufacturer.
- Investigate options to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of the Council’s Leisure Centre’s and remaining Council properties.
Action not yet complete
Survey delayed whilst a diagnostic review of the leisure services took place. This was completed in March 2025. A consultant will be appointed in May 2025 to determine a condition report.
- Continue to implement the Council’s internal carbon reduction programme.
- Create nature diverse places for people to live in.
- Establish more wildlife corridors across the district by adjusting our mowing regime.
Action completed
- Engage with the local community to agree ongoing management of Bramber Brooks.
Action completed
- Review the use of pesticides and herbicides on Council managed land.
Action completed
- Investigate rewilding techniques for managing key sites.
Action completed
- Review the Council’s use of livestock for managing key sites.
Action not yet complete
Report is currently being finalised, however the grazing plan has hit a stumbling block at present due to the issue of devolution and who will own the livestock going forward. There is also in an issue with regard to the grazing land available for livestock in the future if the sites are split in terms of ownership post devolution.
- Establish more wildlife corridors across the district by adjusting our mowing regime.
- Investigate the benefits and opportunities of Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon credits for Horsham District Council and landowners in the District.
- Work in partnership with West Sussex Councils to develop a local nature recovery network strategy.
Action completed
- Review the success of the Wilder Horsham District initiative and develop a proposal to extend the project.
Action completed
- Investigate opportunities across the District to enhance habitats whilst also locking in carbon.
Action not yet complete
This project has been rolled forward to the 2025/26 Annual Plan. Data is now available on the estimated carbon that will be saved from measures that are implemented in the Council's operational buildings. This allows a more accurate appraisal, including costs of carbon offsetting options.
- Work in partnership with West Sussex Councils to develop a local nature recovery network strategy.
- Help businesses and residents to waste less and recycle more.
- Review our dog waste collection service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our communities.
Action completed
- Introduce a new online portal to provide better service provision to Green Waste and Commercial Waste customers.
Action not yet complete
After initial findings working with our ICT contractor, the Green Waste portal was not considered as adding sufficient value to customers for the significant effort involved and therefore is not being taken forward at this time.
Testing has started for Commercial Waste and will continue into 2025/26.
- Review and explore the feasibility of additional waste prevention and recycling programmes.
Action completed
- Plan and take necessary actions to prepare for the introduction of a food waste collection service.
Action completed
- Review our dog waste collection service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our communities.
- Create safer routes for cycling and walking.
- Implement plans to improve non-motorised access for people in the Bishopric and Carfax.
Action not yet complete
Road Safety Audit and Active travel Stage 3 reviews may require further design changes. Stage 3 Cost plan review may identify additional funding requirements and/or value engineering.
Internal and External public consultation, including Your Horsham (BID) and Neighbourhood Council's among others, may raise design change issues which may impact on cost and programme.
- Implement plans to improve non-motorised access for people in the Bishopric and Carfax.
- Help residents and businesses to cut carbon emissions and water usage.
- Develop a Sustainable Business Network to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.
Action not yet complete
We are continuing to review alternative platforms to host the Horsham Climate Business Hub after use of the West Sussex Business Hub platform was ended due to lack of engagement. Meanwhile the content has been recovered and used for an updated webpage.
A survey of past Green LEAP recipients showed that preferred support channels were signposting to grant funding, email newsletter, videos, blogs/articles and training/workshop. The team will assess whether a climate business hub remains a priority to supporting local businesses become more sustainable.
- Use the One Planet Tool to increase community collaboration for action on climate change.
Action completed
- Assess options to provide grants to Registered Providers to improve environmental efficiencies of family homes that would otherwise be lost from the affordable housing sector.
Action completed
- Develop a Sustainable Business Network to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.
- Assist residents and businesses with the insulation of homes and premises.
- Continue the residential retrofit programme to reduce energy and water consumption.
Action completed
- Continue the residential retrofit programme to reduce energy and water consumption.
- Support residents and businesses in switching to green technologies.
- Support County Council initiatives to roll out EV charge points throughout the District.
Action completed
- Work in partnership with other West Sussex Councils to deliver further rounds of a roof top solar scheme for residents and businesses.
Action not yet complete
Inter-Authority agreement with legal prior to signature.
Procurement to follow, with a supplier likely to be in place for the end of the calendar year.
- Support County Council initiatives to roll out EV charge points throughout the District.