04.11.2025
Natural England has confirmed that it has withdrawn its ‘water neutrality’ advice for parts of West Sussex, marking an important step forward for housing delivery in the region. The change follows close collaboration between government agencies and Southern Water to agree new long-term environmental safeguards that protect the Arun Valley’s sensitive habitats while enabling sustainable development to resume across Horsham, Crawley and Chichester.
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Following our article 'Thousands of New Homes Unlocked in North Sussex — Progress at Last for Stalled Sites', Natural England has formally withdrawn its 2021 ‘water neutrality’ position statement affecting new housing development within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone (SNWSZ), which covers the districts of Horsham, Crawley, and Chichester.
The original advice, issued in September 2021, required that no development proceed within the zone unless water neutrality could be demonstrated — a measure introduced due to concerns that increased water abstraction in the Arun Valley was harming protected habitats and rare species, including the Lesser Whirlpool Ramshorn Snail.
The withdrawal follows an agreement between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Natural England, the Environment Agency, and Southern Water. The package will enable the delivery of approximately 21,000 new homes previously delayed by the restrictions.
As part of the agreement, Southern Water will amend its abstraction licences to reduce the volume of water taken from local rivers and wetlands, while also funding habitat restoration projects. Following an environmental study of the Hardham Basin, Natural England confirmed that it has worked with partners to develop a long-term solution comprising ecological resilience measures and revised licence conditions designed to protect the Arun Valley’s designated sites.
These measures – including active water level management and conservation enhancements at Pulborough Brooks – are to be implemented by March 2026. Natural England stated that this package provides “certainty that development in the SNWSZ will not have a likely significant effect on the Arun Valley sites” in accordance with the Habitat Regulations.
The withdrawal of the 2021 advice represents a significant step forward for housing delivery across the affected authorities, offering clarity for local planning authorities, developers, and stakeholders engaged in the region’s growth plans.
For further information or advice on how this announcement could affect your development, please contact Jonathan Buckwell from DHA's Gatwick office.
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