Planning Departments
Local Planning Authorities, pre-application advice, planning portals
West Sussex is a two-tier county. West Sussex County Council handles strategic, minerals and waste planning only. All householder applications go to your district or borough council below.
West Sussex County Council - Strategic Planning
County-wide - minerals, waste & county matters only
01243 777 100westsussex.gov.uk/planning
County Hall, Chichester, PO19 1RQ. Do not use for householder applications - use your district or borough council below.
District & Borough Planning Departments
Adur District Council
Shoreham-by-Sea, Southwick, Lancing
01273 263 000adur.gov.uk/planning
Arun District Council
Littlehampton, Arundel, Bognor Regis
01903 737 500arun.gov.uk/planning
Chichester District Council
Chichester, Selsey, Midhurst, Petworth
01243 785 166chichester.gov.uk/planning
Crawley Borough Council
Crawley, Gatwick area
01293 438 000crawley.gov.uk/planning
Horsham District Council
Horsham, Billingshurst, Henfield, Pulborough
01403 215 100horsham.gov.uk/planning
Mid Sussex District Council
Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill
01444 458 166midsussex.gov.uk/planning
Worthing Borough Council
Worthing
01903 239 999worthing.gov.uk/planning
Building Control
BCO contacts for Building Regulations approval across West Sussex
LABC - Find Your West Sussex Building Control Team
All 7 districts - postcode search
Use the LABC postcode finder to locate your local building control team. You may also use a Registered Building Control Approver (private sector).
Heritage & Conservation
Listed buildings, conservation areas, Chichester Cathedral and the Downs
Historic England - South East Region
Covers West Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire and Berkshire
0370 333 0607southeast@historicengland.org.uk
Eastgate Court, 195-205 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3EH. West Sussex has exceptional heritage including Chichester Cathedral, Arundel Castle, Petworth House, Goodwood and numerous Cinque Port heritage sites.
South Downs National Park Authority
Planning within the South Downs National Park
01730 814 810southdowns.gov.uk/planning
Much of northern West Sussex falls within the South Downs National Park. Submit planning applications to the SDNPA - not to the district council - if your site is within the boundary.
Environment & Flood Risk
Environment Agency, natural environment, drainage and flood
Environment Agency - South East Region
Flood risk, water quality, waste licensing
03708 506 506Check flood risk - GOV.UK
Flood Incident Line: 0345 988 1188 (24hr). West Sussex has flood risk along the Rivers Arun, Adur and Western Rother, and coastal flood risk in low-lying areas around Chichester Harbour.
Natural England - South East
South Downs NP, Chichester Harbour AONB, SSSIs
0300 060 3900
Contact where development may affect designated habitats including Chichester Harbour SSSI, the High Weald AONB, and coastal SAC/SPA sites.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Water, gas, electricity and highways connections
South East Water
Water supply - north and inland West Sussex
0333 000 0002southeastwater.co.uk/developers
Southern Water
Sewerage and water - coastal West Sussex
0330 303 0368southernwater.co.uk/developers
Check your postcode to confirm your water and sewerage company. Build-over agreements needed before building over or near a public sewer.
UK Power Networks (UKPN)
Electricity distribution - all of West Sussex
0800 029 4285ukpowernetworks.co.uk/connections
Power cuts: 105. Contact for new connections, EV charging infrastructure and cable diversions.
Southern Gas Networks (SGN)
Gas distribution - all of West Sussex
0800 912 1700sgn.co.uk/new-connections
Gas emergency: 0800 111 999. SGN operates the gas network across West Sussex and the wider South East.
West Sussex County Council - Highways
Adopted roads, dropped kerbs, access - county-wide
01243 777 100westsussex.gov.uk/roads
National Highways
A23, A24, A27, A259, M23 - trunk roads in West Sussex
0300 123 5000nationalhighways.co.uk
Trade Bodies & Professional Registers
Find vetted tradespeople and professionals in West Sussex
Federation of Master Builders
Gas Safe Register
0800 408 5500gassaferegister.co.uk
NICEIC - Find a Registered Electrician
MCS - Find a Renewable Energy Installer
RICS - Find a Surveyor
Other Useful Contacts
Health & safety, complaints and consumer protection
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
0300 003 1747hse.gov.uk
Notify HSE of notifiable construction projects under CDM Regulations at least 2 weeks before work begins.
Accuracy notice: Contact details and websites change. We update this directory periodically but always verify contacts directly. Last verified July 2026.