Purpose

The Ashdown Forest Statement of Common Ground SoCG seeks to address the strategic cross boundary issue of air quality impacts on the Ashdown Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) that may arise from traffic associated with new development. It provides evidence on how the Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) have approached the Duty to Co-operate, setting out the matters of agreement between members of the Ashdown Forest Working Group (AFWG). Ashdown Forest is a Natura 2000 site and is also known as a European site. It is a SAC designated for its heathland habitat (and a population of great crested newts). The Ashdown Forest SAC is wholly located in Wealden District, East Sussex. Ashdown Forest SAC features are vulnerable to atmospheric pollution from a number of sources including motor vehicles. There is a potential impact pathway from new development and associated increases in traffic flows on the roads such as the A275, A22 and A26, which traverse or run adjacent to the SAC. The emissions from these vehicles may cause a harmful increase in atmospheric pollutants which may adversely affect the integrity of the European site. Traffic modelling for Crawley confirms this includes traffic associated with Crawley Borough. The original SoCG was approved by the Head of Service for Economy and Planning on 9 April 2018. Significant work has continued through the Ashdown Forest Working Group and this update reflects the progress made since 2018. The participating authorities include: East Sussex County Council (ESCC); West Sussex County Council (WSCC); South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA); Wealden District Council (WDC); Lewes District Council (LDC); Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC); Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC); Sevenoaks District Council (SDC); Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC); Crawley Borough Council (CBC); Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC); Tandridge District Council (TDC); and Natural England (NE). In addition, the corresponding authorities include: Kent County Council (KCC); Surrey County Council (SCC); Hastings Borough Council (HBC); Horsham District Council (HDC); Rother District Council (RDC); and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC). The SoCG is based on the existing work which has been agreed by all authorities and demonstrates that the councils are meeting the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) requirements for the Ashdown Forest and have met the Duty to Cooperate. The updated 2025 SoCG is available via this link.

Decision

To approve the updated version of the Ashdown Forest Statement of Common Ground.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - To not agree the updated Statements of Common Ground (SoCG). However, up-to-date SoCGs signed by all parties are required for the legal compliance in relation to the Habitat Regulations. The 2018 version of the SoCG no longer reflects the agreements and work commitments in relation to the Ashdown Forest. Option 2 - To approve the updated Statement of Common Ground.