Milestone Reached – Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategies sent for Supporting Authorities review!

On 20 August 2025, the draft East Sussex and Brighton & Hove LNRS, and the West Sussex LNRS were submitted to the Sussex Supporting Authority Group for a statutory 28-day review.

What’s the purpose of the Supporting Authority review?

To identify any ‘significant’ issues that would prevent the Responsible Authority (in this case East Sussex County Council or West Sussex County Council) from initiating the public consultation on their Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

All 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies being developed around the country go through this step. It signals the strategy is nearing completion; all components have been drawn together and drafted.

When and what is the public consultation?                                                   

Mid-October is when the public consultation on the Sussex strategies is targeted to begin. The consultation will be open for six weeks and will give everyone living and working in Sussex the opportunity to review their LNRS and give their thoughts on it, before the strategies are published in early 2026.

Who is in the Supporting Authority Group?

This is made up of all the district and borough councils in Sussex and the South Downs National Park Authority. Councils review the LNRS that covers their county and the South Downs National Park reviews them both as it crosses both Sussex LNRS areas. 

What exactly are the Supporting Authorities reviewing?

Given the amount of detail they contain, both Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategies have been split into four parts (and 4 documents) plus an interactive Local Habitat Map.  Simply put:

• Part 1 – Provides context to the strategy's recommendations. This includes a description of the habitats in the LNRS area, the pressures they face and a summary of what's already happening for nature.
• Part 2 – Provides the strategy's recommendations relating to habitats - including seven principles and 24 priorities for nature's recovery, and over 100 practical actions (called measures) that can bring them about. 
• Part 3 – Has the strategy's recommendations relating to c.160 priority species. 
• Part 4 – Has supporting technical detail on how the LNRS was created.
• The Local Habitat Map shows where our designated sites for nature are located (such as nature reserves). They also show where mappable measures could be taken to achieve the best outcomes for nature and the wider environment.  Not all measures benefitting nature can be mapped however - some because they could be implemented in too many places (for example wildflower strips), others because there isn't sufficient data to map them accurately. 

What happens next? 

Supporting Authorities have until the 17 September 2025 to raise any objections to the draft LNRS for their county. If none are received, the Sussex Nature Recovery team will prepare the drafts for public consultation, including giving them a visual, engaging design.  Other assets to support public consultation will be prepared including printed copies of the draft strategies made available in key locations such as libraries, so that those without digital access can view them.

More details about where, when and how to take part in the public consultation will follow in due course.