The Council has agreed recommendations for a series of changes to parish boundaries across the District following the conclusion of a Community Governance Review.
The review looked at existing parish boundaries and governance arrangements across the District. Residents and stakeholders were invited to take part in two six-week consultations earlier this year, the first from May to June 2026 and the second from July to September 2026. Nearly 2,500 responses were received across the two consultations and helped shape the final recommendations.
Following analysis of the consultation responses, the Council developed the recommendations in collaboration with an external adviser, to ensure parish arrangements reflect community identity and provide effective and convenient local government.
The recommendations were considered by the Governance Committee on 28 September and Reorganisation Orders were subsequently made at a Full Council meeting on 7 October to give effect to those recommendations.
The Reorganisation Orders set out the agreed changes to parish areas across the district and are summarised as follows:
- Creating 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
- Transferring 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
- Transferring 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
- Creating 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 will 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 supported 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
- Transferring the area to the west of Broadbridge Heath Parish, containing Lower Broadbridge Farm currently located in Slinfold Parish to Broadbridge Heath Parish. This 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
- Extending 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. It was further agreed to split Southwater Parish into three wards: Southwater North, Southwater Central, and Southwater South.
No changes were proposed to any other parish boundaries.