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Water Neutrality Requirements Withdrawn



Water Neutrality Requirements Withdrawn

Further to the Defra announcement made on 8  October 2025 Natural England issued a withdrawal statement on 31 October 2025,  confirming that its Water Neutrality Position Statement of September 2021 has been withdrawn. This means that development within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone will no longer be required to demonstrate that it is water neutral.

Part of the South Downs National Park (and surrounding area) falls within the Sussex North Water Resource (Supply) Zone. This includes parts of the Chichester, Horsham and Arun areas of the SDNP.  The Sussex North Water Resource (Supply) Zone is shown in dark blue on the Southern Water Supply Area map.

The removal of the water neutrality restriction follows agreement between Southern Water and the Environment Agency that a licence cap on water abstraction will ensure with sufficient certainty that development will not adversely impact the protected Arun Valley habitats. This is the primary element of interest to local authorities in making decisions regarding relevant plans or projects, as it removes connection between abstraction and growth.

While the licence modification addresses issues related to planning, growth, and abstraction, a separate package of measures is proposed to support recovery and enhance ecological resilience at Pulborough Brooks SSSI. Natural England has advised that local authorities are not required to consider these measures when determining relevant plans or projects.

With the Position Statement now withdrawn, the South Downs National Park Authority can begin issuing decisions on live applications that have been held up by water neutrality. We will endeavour to clear these as quickly as we can, but please bear with officers as we work to issue the decisions on outstanding applications.

We are also likely to receive applications to vary existing water neutrality conditions and legal obligations. Overall, therefore, it is likely to take a number of months to clear the outstanding applications and those seeking amendments to previous approvals.