Consultation - Southwater & Shipley Neighbourhood Plan

Consultation on the joint Southwater & Shipley Neighbourhood Plan Area.

Shipley Parish Council has formally applied to Horsham District Council for the designation of a joint Southwater & Shipley Neighbourhood Plan Area following a positive resolution with neighbouring Southwater Parish Council in April 2026.

The proposed area covers both parishes entirely and reflects the increasingly close planning relationships between them, particularly where the outward growth of Southwater influences adjoining rural areas of Shipley and vice versa.

The designation request sets out the clear planning reasons for the joint approach, including, but not limited to:

• shared issues relating to the ongoing protection of the landscape and the countryside, movement and connectivity;
• the need for more coordinated infrastructure planning; and
• avoiding duplication and policy inconsistency across both parishes and around boundaries

Both councils have independently concluded that a joint neighbourhood plan would provide the most logical, effective and locally supported basis for planning.

The formal consultation notice can be found HERE

Shipley-specific policies will address issues such as development site locations and local design via the Parish Design Statement. To that end, the parish council is seeking local residents to join the Shipley Parish Neighbourhood Plan Working Group.

The purpose of the Working Group is to represent the interests, priorities and distinctive character of Shipley Parish within the preparation of the Joint Neighbourhood Plan.

The Working Group shall ensure that the views of Shipley residents, businesses, landowners and community organisations are effectively represented within the wider joint planning process.

To find out more and to register your interest, please contact the parish clerk at [email protected]