Purpose

The Ashdown Forest Statement of Common Ground SoCG seeks to
address the strategic cross boundary issue of air quality impacts
on the Ashdown Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) that may
arise from traffic associated with new development. It provides
evidence on how the Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) have
approached the Duty to Co-operate, setting out the matters of
agreement between members of the Ashdown Forest Working Group
(AFWG).

Ashdown Forest is a Natura 2000 site and is also known as a
European site. It is a SAC designated for its heathland habitat
(and a population of great crested newts). The Ashdown Forest SAC
is wholly located in Wealden District, East Sussex. Ashdown Forest
SAC features are vulnerable to atmospheric pollution from a number
of sources including motor vehicles. There is a potential impact
pathway from new development and associated increases in traffic
flows on the roads such as the A275, A22 and A26, which traverse or
run adjacent to the SAC. The emissions from these vehicles may
cause a harmful increase in atmospheric pollutants which may
adversely affect the integrity of the European site. Traffic
modelling for Crawley confirms this includes traffic associated
with Crawley Borough.

The original SoCG was approved by the Head of Service for Economy
and Planning on 9 April 2018. 
Significant work has continued through the Ashdown Forest Working
Group and this update reflects the progress made since 2018.

The participating authorities include: East Sussex County Council
(ESCC); West Sussex County Council (WSCC); South Downs National
Park Authority (SDNPA); Wealden District Council (WDC); Lewes
District Council (LDC); Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC); Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council (TWBC); Sevenoaks District Council (SDC); Mid
Sussex District Council (MSDC); Crawley Borough Council (CBC);
Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC); Tandridge District Council
(TDC); and Natural England (NE). In addition, the corresponding
authorities include: Kent County Council (KCC); Surrey County
Council (SCC); Hastings Borough Council (HBC); Horsham District
Council (HDC); Rother District Council (RDC); and Tonbridge and
Malling Borough Council (TMBC).

The SoCG is based on the existing work which has been agreed by all
authorities and demonstrates that the councils are meeting the
Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) requirements for the Ashdown
Forest and have met the Duty to Cooperate.

The updated 2025 SoCG is available via this
link.

Content

To approve the updated version of the Ashdown
Forest Statement of Common Ground.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - To not agree the updated Statements
of Common Ground (SoCG). However, up-to-date SoCGs signed by all
parties are required for the legal compliance in relation to the
Habitat Regulations. The 2018 version of the SoCG no longer
reflects the agreements and work commitments in relation to the
Ashdown Forest.

Option 2 - To approve the updated Statement of Common Ground.