West Sussex care market report 2026
A high quality, self funder led market. The 85+ population grows by half by 2035, home care pays among the best rates in England, and the council wants dementia, extra care and home based care rather than more standard beds.
Len Burgess, lead analyst, with years working in nursing and care homes.Care homes line the coast from Chichester to Worthing, leaving Crawley thin
332 care homes mapped. Source: CQC active locations, 1 Oct 2026.
Care homes line the coast from Chichester to Worthing, leaving Crawley thin
332 care homes mapped. Source: CQC active locations, 1 Oct 2026.
- 6th largest council care home market in England: 332 homes, 10,386 beds.
- Two in three beds are not council funded, so self funders drive the market.
- The council wants dementia nursing, extra care and supported living, not more standard residential.
Ten things to know about West Sussex
The first three are free. The full executive summary, with the opportunity scorecard, is in the report.
- 6th largest care home market in England.
- Two in three beds are not council funded, so self funders drive the market.
- The council wants dementia, extra care and home based care.
- Demand grows fast. The population aged 85+ rises 49% by 2035, from 32,790 to 48,923, faster than England (45%).
- But the council expects too many standard beds. With occupancy at about 90%, it projects an oversupply of about 650 beds by 2035 and wants no net growth of standard residential care in Arun, Chichester and Adur.
- A self funder market. Council funded residents fill about a third of all beds (34% on our measure, 14th lowest of 152 councils). For older people the council buys about a quarter of beds.
West Sussex pays less than most of the South East for care homes, and has more beds than most
West Sussex's residential fee is in the middle third of South East councils
Council rate for residential care, 65+, £ per week, 2025/26. Each dot is a South East council.
Source: Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund returns 2025/26. England median £962.
West Sussex has more beds for its oldest residents than most of the South East
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 85+, 2026. Each dot is a South East council.
Source: CQC active locations (1 Oct 2026); ONS 2022 based projections. England 304.
Supply is tightest in Crawley and Horsham
West Sussex averages 298 older people's care home beds for every 1,000 people aged 85+, but the 7 districts range from 137 in Crawley to 423 in Worthing. Horsham has the fastest growth in the county: its 85+ population rises 56% by 2035.
The report profiles all 7 districts, with every home of 20 beds or more.
Two districts have fewer than 250 older people's beds per 1,000 aged 85+
Older people's care home beds per 1,000 aged 85+, by district, 2026
Source: CQC active locations, 1 Oct 2026, matched to districts by postcode; ONS 2022 based projections.
41 pages, 28 sections, 7 district profiles
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Every district, every care home, council fees and council plans for West Sussex, for £295.
West Sussex report
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Residential care fees, all 152 councils
Council rate, 65+, £ per week, 2025/26
Each council links to its own report page. Source: MSIF 2025/26.
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