High Weald Management Plan

The High Weald National Landscape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is an area of land protected for its outstanding natural beauty. The statutory purpose of the landscape designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. 

A small proportion of land within our administrative boundaries falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), to the south of the A264, at Pease Pottage.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires local authorities with land in an AONB to prepare and publish an up-to-date plan which ‘formulates their policy for the management of the area and for the carrying out of their functions in relation to it’. We are a joint member of the High Weald Landscape Partnership which undertake our statutory duties in relation to the AONB on our behalf.

To meet the requirements of the Act, The High Weald Management Plan 2024 to 2029 has been prepared by the High Weald AONB Partnership and was adopted by Crawley Borough Council on 22 July 2024. 

The plan is a material consideration for planning applications in the High Weald area. Policy CH10 of the adopted Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 to 2030, and Policy CL9 of the emerging Crawley Borough Local Plan 2023 to 2040, require particular regard to the High Weald AONB Management Plan in determining development proposals affecting the national landscape within the borough of Crawley.

Further information