Responses to Planning consultations
Our Strategic Planning and Development Management Teams respond to a number of consultations issued by Government departments and other agencies. The responses sent by us are available to download below.
(Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - May 2025)
The consultation sought views on proposals around the delegation of planning functions, the size and composition of planning committees and mandatory training for members of planning committees.
Response to Reform of Planning Committees: Technical Consultation
(Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - May 2025)
The Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds forms part of a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further policy development in collaboration with the wider sector.
It proposes options for reforming site thresholds within the planning system. This would introduce a gradated approach, with 3 separate thresholds: minor, medium and major. The paper explores how different site sizes should be treated within the planning system and proposes streamlining disproportionate requirements on small and medium sites, while maintaining and strengthening requirements on major development. Please note that this is not a formal consultation and is instead intended to inform discussions with the sector, to determine whether and how to take these proposals forward.
(Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government - May 2025)
The Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out invites views on options the government could pursue to ensure the right incentives exist in the housing market, and local planning authorities have the tools they need, to encourage homes to be built out more quickly. In addition to the transparency and accountability measures set out in the technical consultation, this includes incentivising and supporting models of development that build out faster, such as partnership models, greater affordable housing, public sector master-planned sites, and smaller sites. We also invite views on giving local authorities the ability – as a last resort – to charge developers a new ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’ when they fall materially behind pre-agreed build out schedules.
(Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - July 2024
The consultation sought views on the proposed approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework in order to achieve sustainable growth in the planning system. It is also seeking views on a series of wider policy proposals in relation to increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The Council’s response to the consultation can be found below.
The consultation sought comments on proposed changes to the Local Plan making process with a view to producing simpler plans and speeding up their production. The Council’s response to the consultation can be found below
(Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - September 2023)
The Operation reforms to the NSIP consultation sought views on the details to the operational reforms which the government was looking to make to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) consenting process, following the publication of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Action Plan in February 2023. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
This consultation presented proposals for extension to the existing National Grid Bolney substation. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
This consultation presented a potential alternative to a 3km (approx.) section of the onshore cable route in the South Downs, north of Patching. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
The Rampion 2 Targeted Onshore Cable Route Consultation ran from 18 October to 29 November 2022. This consultation presented several potential changes to the onshore cable route proposals. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
The Rampion 2 Formal Public Consultation was held from 14 July to 16 September 2021. The consultation was then reopened between 7 February and 11 April 2022. The Rampion 2 Windfarm proposal constitutes a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which will require an application for Development Consent to be made to the Planning Inspectorate, with a decision ultimately made by the Secretary of State. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
(Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - March 2023)
In March 2023 the Government sought views on the 'Infrastructure Levy' - a reform to the existing developer contributions - Section 106 planning obligations and Community Infrastructure Levy - in England. Horsham District Council's response can be read below:
(Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - March 2023)
In March 2023 the government sought views on the approach to developing Environmental Outcomes Reports to support departments in the next stage of policy development. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below
(Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - February 2023)
In February 2023 the government sought views on proposals intended to improve the performance of local planning authorities through an increase in planning fees, building capacity and capability, and introducing a more robust performance regime. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below
(Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - December 2022)
In December 2022, the Government published a consultation on planning reforms related to changes in legislation likely to come forward in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
Following five years of technical work, stakeholder engagement and the publication of its Transport Strategy in 2020, Transport for the South East (TfSE) has published its draft Strategic Investment Plan. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation draft can be read below.
(Gatwick Airport - July 2022)
In Summer 2022, Gatwick Airport Ltd commenced a further consultation on its proposals to bring its northern (or standby) runway into routine use. The consultation principally focused on updated road designs although also contained other project updates. Horsham District Council's response to the consultation can be read below.
(Gatwick Airport - December 2021)
Through its Northern Runway Project, Gatwick Airport Ltd proposes to bring its northern runway into routine use to create a dual-runway airport with significantly expanded capacity. Proposals for expansion of the airport were originally set out in the Gatwick Airport Master Plan (2019) which presented three scenarios for growth. This is the second growth scenario and constitutes a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which will require an application for Development Consent to be made to the Planning Inspectorate, with a decision ultimately made by the Secretary of State for Transport.
Horsham District Council has responded individually, but is also working jointly with nine other local authorities affected by the proposals. The Council’s published response below does not contain Appendices (iii) to (ix) due to the size of the reports, however these are available upon request.