Local Plan evidence base: environmental sustainability

In order to meet the requirements set out in national guidance, the Local Plan is informed by detailed technical studies. These make up the Local Plan evidence base. 

The studies that have been carried out for the Local Plan reflect Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s locally distinctive issues, challenges and opportunities, unique to the town. 

Environmental sustainability evidence supports the following Local Plan chapters:

  • green infrastructure and biodiversity
  • sustainable design and construction
  • environmental protection
  • sustainable transport

Additional evidence will be gathered and published as required.

Green infrastructure

Eco-Serv-GIS Report January 2020 (PDF, 36.94 MB)
Local Plan Green Infrastructure Map High Res (PDF, 13.51 MB)
LP112 - South East Green Infrastructure Framework (PDF, 4.06 MB)
Eco-serv report: Joint Horsham District and Â鶹´«Ã½ Borough (PDF, 38.36 MB)
Local Plan Green Infrastructure Map High Res (PDF, 13.51 MB)
LP112 - South East Green Infrastructure Framework (PDF, 4.06 MB)
SNCI and Wildlife Sites Review (PDF, 1011.65 KB)
Habitat Action Plan for Sussex - Woodland (PDF, 2.26 MB)
Habitat Action Plan for Sussex - Urban (PDF, 166.41 KB)
Local Plan Green Infrastructure Map High Res (PDF, 13.51 MB)

Sustainable design and construction

Natural England water neutrality position statement 2021

Natural England water neutrality advice note February 2022

Control Flow HL2024 - final report on Â鶹´«Ã½ Borough Council pilot, September 2022, Cenergist (PDF, 5.54 MB)
Natural England’s endorsement of Sussex north water neutrality study, November 2022, Natural England (PDF, 244.39 KB)

Climate Emergency Action Plan principles (PDF, 442.14 KB)
Carbon Waste Reduction Strategy (PDF, 467.4 KB)
Decentralised Energy Study (PDF, 5.18 MB)
A review of local planning policies addressing climate change 2009 (PDF, 759.4 KB)
Planning and Climate Change Report (PDF, 3.3 MB)
Water neutrality study part A - individual authority areas (PDF, 907.99 KB)
Water neutrality study part B - in combination assessment (PDF, 1.76 MB)
Part C: water neutrality assessment (PDF, 2.19 MB)
Gatwick Sub-Region Water Cycle Study (August 2020) (PDF, 8.05 MB)
Addendum to Water Cycle Study (January 2021) (PDF, 508.08 KB)
Water Cycle Study Â鶹´«Ã½ Addendum (Appendix A) January 2021 (PDF, 378.85 KB)

Decentralised Energy Study (PDF, 5.18 MB)
Planning and Climate Change Report (PDF, 3.3 MB)
A review of local planning policies addressing climate change 2009 (PDF, 759.4 KB)
Carbon Waste Reduction Strategy (PDF, 467.4 KB)
Corporate Climate Change Strategy (PDF, 191.67 KB)

Environmental protection






Appendix C – Flood Zones (2023) (PDF, 6.41 MB)
Appendix D – Flood Zones + CC (2023) (PDF, 14.78 MB)
Appendix H – Reservoir Flood Maps (2023) (PDF, 1.16 MB)
Appendix J – FWAs and FAAs (2023) (PDF, 4.64 MB)
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment September 2020 (PDF, 4.21 MB)
Appendix A Historic flooding (PDF, 13.53 MB)
Appendix B Watercourses (PDF, 16.73 MB)
Appendix C Fluvial flood zones (PDF, 6.51 MB)
Appendix D Fluvial climate change flood risk mapping (PDF, 1.25 MB)
Appendix E Risk of flooding from surface water (PDF, 16.63 MB)
Appendix F Risk of flooding from surface water - climate change (PDF, 16.58 MB)
Appendix G Groundwater (PDF, 14.39 MB)
Appendix H Risk of flooding from reservoirs (PDF, 14.14 MB)
Appendix I.1 Flood defences (PDF, 14.34 MB)
Appendix I.2 Flood defence type (PDF, 14.34 MB)
Appendix I.3 Flood defence standard of protection (PDF, 14.34 MB)
Appendix I.4 Flood defence condition (PDF, 14.34 MB)
Appendix J Flood warnings and alerts (PDF, 14.01 MB)

Environmental noise and health in the UK 2010

Environmental Noise and Health in the UK 2010 HPA (PDF, 1.24 MB)
LP146 Report to Secretary of State - Communities and Local Gov. NE Sector 2009 (PDF, 871.32 KB)

Planning Noise Advice Document Sussex (2021) (PDF, 1.33 MB)
Air quality and emissions mitigation guidance for Sussex (2020) (PDF, 696.03 KB)
Planning Noise Advice Document Sussex (2021) (PDF, 1.33 MB)
Annual Air Quality report 2022 (PDF, 3.69 MB)

Â鶹´«Ã½ Air Quality Action Plan 2018 (PDF, 1.22 MB)

Site Allocation Consultation Water Cycle Study (PDF, 3 MB)
Outline Water Cycle Study 2011 (PDF, 2.35 MB)
CBC Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (PDF, 318.36 KB)
Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2013 to 2018 (PDF, 3.55 MB)
Water People Places (PDF, 10.48 MB)
Planning Noise Advice Document (PDF, 1.02 MB)
Gatwick Sub-Regional Water Cycle Study (PDF, 825.19 KB)
Air Quality and Emissions Mitigation Guidance for Sussex (PDF, 787.49 KB)
Air Quality and Emissions Mitigation Guidance for Sussex - Appendices (PDF, 811.97 KB)
Air Quality Progress Report 2008 (PDF, 889.09 KB)
Air Quality Review 2007 (PDF, 6.5 MB)
Airports Commission Discussion Paper 05 Aviation Noise (PDF, 1.67 MB)
Environmental Noise and Health in the UK 2010 HPA (PDF, 1.24 MB)
LP146 Report to Secretary of State - Communities and Local Gov. NE Sector 2009 (PDF, 871.32 KB)
Delivering Sustainable Drainage Systems (September 2014) (PDF, 405.04 KB)
Written Statement Matter 5 Issue 2 (PDF, 501.2 KB)
Written Statement Matter 5 Issue 2 Appendices (PDF, 3.15 MB)
Joint Statement between CBC_ EA and WSCC on PPG changes to SUDS (PDF, 612.39 KB)

Sustainable transport

Horsham and Â鶹´«Ã½ joint assumptions transport note, April 2021 (PDF, 408.29 KB)




Â鶹´«Ã½ local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), March 2021 (amended July 2023)

Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study (June 2022) (PDF, 5.72 MB)
Appendix A - Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Strategy New Directions for Â鶹´«Ã½ (PDF, 3.54 MB)
Appendix B - Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Model (validation report) (PDF, 7.15 MB)
Appendix C - Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Model (forecast report) (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Appendix D - New CTM zones (PDF, 283.23 KB)
Appendix E - Reference case development assumptions list (PDF, 454.6 KB)
Appendix F - TRICS TRIP rates combined TRICS (PDF, 2.74 MB)
Appendix G - Reference case schemes with WSCC comments (PDF, 427.76 KB)
Appendix H - Without mitigation flow difference plots (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Appendix J - Metrobus Â鶹´«Ã½ network December 2019 (PDF, 1.56 MB)
Appendix K - With sustainable mitigation flow difference plots (PDF, 1.69 MB)
Appendix L - Volume to capacity ratio and delays summary (PDF, 747.65 KB)
Appendix M - Junction modelling outputs (PDF, 3.58 MB)
Appendix N - Â鶹´«Ã½ Avenue and Ifield Avenue roundabout improvements construction cost estimate (PDF, 199 KB)
Appendix O - SRN merge diverge assessments (PDF, 8.77 MB)
Appendix P - Delays VC queues reference vs Local Plan scenario 2 sustainable (PDF, 2.99 MB)
Appendix Q - M23 Junction 10 costings (PDF, 367.66 KB)
Appendix R - M23 Junction 11 costings (PDF, 364.48 KB)
Appendix S1 - M23 J10 existing layout TRANSYT 15 report (PDF, 1.53 MB)
Appendix S2 - M23 J10 reference year layout TRANSYT 15 report (PDF, 1.83 MB)
Appendix S3 - M23 J10 reference year layout with lane marking changes TRANSYT 15 report (PDF, 1.35 MB)
Appendix S4 - M23 J10 reference year layout with lane marking changes sensitivity report (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Appendix T - M23 J11 existing layout TRANSYT 15 report (PDF, 2.39 MB)
Appendix U - Flow difference plots with and without CWLR (PDF, 647.52 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 1 Ifield Roundabout Mitigation and Junction Modelling (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 2 M23 junction10 SouthBound Merge Mitigation (PDF, 370.65 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 3 M23 junction 11 NorthBound Diverge-Merge Mitigation (PDF, 423.78 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 4 Bewbush Roundabout AS BUILT (PDF, 1.35 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 5 Lowfield Heath Roundabout Signs Location (PDF, 174.93 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 6 Lowfield Heath Roundabout Signs Inset A AS BUILT (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 7 Lowfield Heath Roundabout Signs Inset B AS BUILT (PDF, 1.21 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 8 Lowfield Heath Roundabout Signs Inset C AS BUILT (PDF, 226.96 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Study Drawing 8.1 M23 Junction 10 - Proposed Local Plan Road Marking Improvements (PDF, 579.04 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Modelling Study TN01 – comparison of trip ends in NTEM June 2023 (PDF, 241.37 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Modelling Study TN02 – GAL sensitivity test June 2023 (PDF, 2.29 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Transport Modelling Study TN03 – Gatwick green trip generation comparison June 2023 (PDF, 189.67 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study refined area of search March 2023 (PDF, 2.32 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix A - Existing Constraints (PDF, 1.57 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Study Appendix C London Road traffic modelling (PDF, 308.9 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix D - Multi-criteria Appraisal Summary Spreadsheet - Western Section (PDF, 93.21 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix E - Multi-criteria Appraisal Summary Spreadsheet - Middle Section (PDF, 94.11 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix F - Multi-criteria Appraisal Summary Spreadsheet - Eastern Section (PDF, 99.18 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix G - Areas of Search (PDF, 493.91 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix I Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road (PDF, 161.49 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix I GALs Response to Systra Western Link consultation (PDF, 571.85 KB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix J - Northern Section Corridor Study, Final Presentation (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix J - Northern Section Corridor Study, GAL a (PDF, 3.93 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix J - Northern Section Corridor Study, GAL b (PDF, 3.93 MB)
Â鶹´«Ã½ Western Link Road Northern Section study Appendix J - Northern Section Corridor Study, GAL Stakeholder Presentation (PDF, 800.52 KB)
Local Plan Transport Strategy (PDF, 1 MB)
Local Plan Transport Modelling (PDF, 1.63 MB)
CBC056 Statement of Common Ground between CBC HA and WSCC 27 April 2015 (PDF, 3.9 MB)