Published: 21 October 2024

From: Planning

Crawley’s Local Plan for 2023 to 2040 has been formally adopted by Full Council at its meeting held on 16 October. This follows the recommendation by the council’s cabinet to adopt the plan after confirmation from the independent planning inspectors that the plan is sound and legally compliant.

The planning inspectors complimented the council’s approach to achieve water neutrality and the quality of its duty to cooperate with other local authorities.

Adopting the plan means that the council will be able to control the types of development in the borough, safeguard its ability to process planning applications and access funds from developers by way of Community Infrastructure Levy and also through section 106 funding to invest in sustainable transport, employment and skills, affordable housing development, open spaces, tree planting, biodiversity and other infrastructure improvements.

In addition, the Local Plan sets out the strategic priorities for Crawley and the planning policies, which include:

  • new homes – in particular affordable, sustainable and good quality housing, which is the right mix to benefit Crawley residents
  • new jobs, including at a new strategic employment site at Gatwick Green, which will help Crawley meet its employment land growth needs
  • water efficient and water neutral new development to comply with Natural England’s requirements
  • protection of Crawley’s heritage, environmental and recreation assets
  • climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • stricter noise thresholds for greater protection of new residential development from noise, particularly from the airport
  • a robust defence against unauthorised off airport parking
  • provision of community, social and cultural infrastructure and other local facilities
     

Adopting the local plan is a real step forward in ensuring that the council has control of development in the borough. This will put us on the path to deliver for future housing needs, employment and importantly continue to address the issue of water neutrality that has held back much needed home building in the borough.The Local Plan lays out the sustainable future of our town for the next 16 years and has been developed with feedback from residents, businesses and other stakeholders. I would like to thank all those that have contributed to enable us to reach adoption by full council.
 

Councillor Atif Nawaz

Cabinet member for Planning and Economic Development

Crawley Borough Council

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