The Council is putting forward a series of suggested changes to parish boundaries across the District as part of a Community Governance Review.
The Community Governance Review looked at existing parish boundaries and governance arrangements across the District.
Residents and stakeholders were encouraged to engage via two, six-week consultations that were carried out earlier this year– the first from May until June 2026 and the second from July to September 2026. Nearly 2,500 responses were received across the two consultations, helping to shape the proposals now being put forward.
Following the analysis of responses to the consultation, the Council has developed several proposals in collaboration with an external advisor, which aim to ensure parish councils reflect community identity and provide effective and convenient local government.
The proposals are:
- Create a single, self contained parish for Kilnwood Vale. It is suggested that Kilnwood Vale should be governed as a single, self contained parish reflecting its identity as a distinct and growing community whilst protecting the historic identity of Colgate and Faygate
- Transfer the whole of Small Dole into Upper Beeding parish. This change aligns governance with community identity, reflects settlement patterns, and is supported by both Upper Beeding and Henfield Parish Councils. It removes an anomalous boundary and supports effective and convenient local government
- Transfer the whole of Bramber Brooks to Bramber Parish. This option aligns governance with land identity, reflects geographic patterns, and is supported by both Bramber Parish Council and Steyning Town Council. It removes an anomalous boundary and supports effective and convenient local government
- Create a single unified Horsham parish council, to replace Horsham Town Council & North Horsham Parish Council, as well as incorporating the whole of the Mowbray development. The new parish would include six wards reflecting the historic neighbourhoods of Denne, Forest, Holbrook, Roffey and Trafalgar alongside Mowbray. Overall, evidence collected as part of the consultation process supports the creation of a single unified Horsham parish council. This structure will provide clearer, more effective governance, stronger representation, and a sustainable foundation for the future, particularly in the context of anticipated local government reorganisation
- Transfer the area to the west of Broadbridge Heath Parish, containing Lower Broadbridge Farm currently located in Slinfold Parish to Broadbridge Heath Parish. This recommendation ensures that the planned 133 homes at Lower Broadbridge Farm are represented by the parish council most closely aligned with their community identity, daily service patterns and settlement context. It removes an anomalous boundary, creates a coherent governance structure, and aligns with statutory requirements
- Extend the boundary of Southwater Parish to include the development areas in the north of Shipley Parish. Developments in North Shipley directly adjoin Southwater’s built up area, are designed and marketed as part of Southwater, and will rely on Southwater’s schools, shops, services, transport links and community facilities, making this the most sensible recommendation. There is a further proposal to split Southwater Parish into three wards: Southwater North, Southwater Central, and Southwater South.
- No changes are proposed to any other parish boundaries
Horsham District Council Chief Executive Jane Eaton said: “Thank you to the District residents, organisations, elected representatives and parish and town councils that took part in this consultation.
“It has been 13 years since the last review, and we recognise that many communities across the District have changed during that time.
“New housing developments, population growth and longstanding boundary anomalies can all affect whether current parish arrangements remain appropriate.
We are confident the changes proposed will ensure parish boundaries and council structures better reflect local communities and work effectively for residents.”
The findings of the Community Governance Review will be discussed at September’s Governance Committee meeting on 28 September, ahead of a Full Council meeting in October.