Decision Maker: Head of Economy and Planning

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 17, 2023

Purpose: National Planning Policy requires each Local Planning Authority to demonstrate effective and on-going joint working with its neighbouring authorities/other authorities in the sub-region and other prescribed bodies, through the preparation and maintenance of Statements of Common Ground (SoCG). These must be agreed by the point of Submission of each Local Plan for its independent Examination. As part of the Crawley Borough Local Plan Review, substantial joint working with all of the neighbouring authorities and Prescribed Bodies has taken place and a number of SoCG have already been agreed. This is set out in the Crawley Duty to Cooperate Statement (May 2023): https://crawley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/Duty%20to%20Cooperate%20Statement%20May%202023%20%28low%20res%29.pdf Updates to the existing SoCG and a new Statement have been agreed between the Northern West Sussex Authorities (Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council) in relation to the Crawley Borough Local Plan. The Northern West Sussex Statement of Common Ground has been agreed and signed by Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council. The Northern West Sussex Housing Needs Statement of Common Ground has been agreed and signed by Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council.

Content: To approve the Northern West Sussex Statement of Common Ground and Northern West Sussex Housing Needs Statement of Common Ground for submission alongside the Crawley Borough Local Plan.