News and Updates
24 March 2026
The following Local Plan documents, including the final version of the Spelthorne Local Plan 2024- 2039/40, can be viewed below, following the adoption of the Plan by a unanimous vote at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on Tuesday 17 March 2026.
Spelthorne Local Plan 2024- 2039/40
Main Modifications Schedule – Spelthorne
Schedule of Additional Modifications Updated May 2025
Spelthorne Local Plan Report Final (Inspector’s Report)
Spelthorne Local Plan Adoption Statement March 2026
Sustainability Appraisal Strategic Environmental Assessment Report for the Local Plan 2024 -2039/40
Statement of Housing Land Supply March 2026
Spelthorne Local Plan Policies Web Map
18 March 2026
The Spelthorne Local Plan 2024 – 2039/40 was adopted by a unanimous vote at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on Tuesday 17 March 2026. The meeting agenda and draft minutes are on the main Council web page. A final version of the Spelthorne Local Plan will be uploaded in the next few days.
Spelthorne Local Plan 2024 – 2039/40
The adopted Policies Map is available.
The Spelthorne Design Code was adopted at the same meeting on 17 March 2026.
Spelthorne Design Code – Appendix A Understanding Spelthorne Today (this appendix sets out relevant background design information about the borough today, including detailed characterisation of Spelthorne’s area types; historic development; green and blue infrastructure; movement; built form; people and places; future development.)
Spelthorne Design Code – Appendix B Community Engagement Process (this appendix sets out how the Code was created in collaboration with the community in Spelthorne.)
Spelthorne Design Code – Appendix C Design of Residential Extensions (this appendix adds further information to the key dimensional guidance for residential extensions. It is drawn from the previous ‘Design of Residential Extensions and New Residential Development’ Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). )
5 March 2026
On 4 March 2026 the Council received the Report on the Examination of the Spelthorne Local Plan from Inspector Bridgwater. The report “concludes that the Spelthorne Local Plan provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the Borough, provided that a number of main modifications are made to it” and is sound.
Reports will be taken to an Extraordinary Meeting of the Environment & Sustainability Committee followed by an Extraordinary Council Meeting in the next few weeks to consider the Adoption of the Local Plan.
13 January 2026
The public consultation regarding removing one of the allocated sites from the Spelthorne Local Plan concluded on 4 January 2026. Since the Main Modifications consultation closed and representations were submitted to the Inspector in June 2025, the Council became aware that an allocated site in the emerging Local Plan (AS1/011 Land at former Bulldog Nurseries, Town Lane, Ashford) was no longer available for residential development. In line with the Council’s spatial strategy, the only sites recommended for removal from the Green Belt are those available to meet the Council’s housing need and for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople pitches and plots. Therefore, the Council ran a consultation from 22 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 regarding removing site allocation AS1/011 Land at former Bulldog Nurseries, Town Lane, Ashford from the Local Plan and retaining the land within the Green Belt.
All representations received and the officer responses to them have been sent to the Planning Inspector. Inspector Bridgwater will now review the comments received and determine whether that site should remain in the Local Plan as a development site for homes, or remain within the Green Belt. The Inspector’s report will not only outline his conclusion on this matter but the soundness of the entire Local Plan.
The Council remain in the Inspector’s hands and there is no fixed timescale for him to send his report to the Council. Once received, the report will be published on the Council website almost immediately. If the Local Plan is found to be sound and an appropriate strategy for Spelthorne, it will be taken to the Council’s Environment and Sustainability Committee and to Council for Adoption.
14 November 2025
Since the Main Modifications consultation closed and representations were submitted to the Inspector in June 2025, the Council have become aware that an allocated site in the emerging Local Plan (AS1/011 Land at former Bulldog Nurseries, Town Lane, Ashford) is no longer available for residential development. The allocated site was being proposed for removal from the green belt to meet the Council’s high housing need.
However, in line with the Council’s spatial strategy, the only sites recommended for removal from the Green Belt are those available to meet the Council’s housing need and for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople pitches and plots. Therefore, the Council is now consulting removing site allocation AS1/011 Land at former Bulldog Nurseries, Town Lane, Ashford from the Local Plan and retaining the land within the Green Belt. The consultation is open from 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, and can be viewed here.
The consultation documents have been added under Core Documents with document references CD053, CD054, CD055, and CD056. They can be viewed here. A topic paper setting out the background to this consultation has been added under Topic Papers and Notes on the Evidence Base page with document reference TOP011, and can be viewed here.
9 July 2025
The Main Modifications Consultation Representations Summary and Officer Response document can now be viewed. This is a short ten-page document setting out a summary of the issues raised during the public consultation on the Main Modifications to the Spelthorne Local Plan and the officer responses to these.
6 June 2025
The representations made under the public consultation on the Main Modifications to the Spelthorne Local Plan have been submitted to the Inspector. They can be viewed under Core Documents with references CD050 and CD051 respectively on the Submission and Examination Documents page (which can be accessed here).
19 May 2025
The six-week public consultation on the Main Modifications to the Spelthorne Local Plan was closed on 15 May 2025.
All representations received during the consultation will be forwarded to the Planning Inspector for his consideration before he finalises his examination report into the Spelthorne Local Plan.
3 April 2025
A six-week public consultation on the Main Modifications to the Spelthorne Local Plan is to begin on 3 April.
Following the Hearing sessions Inspector Bridgwater proposed a number of changes to the Local Plan known as ‘Main Modifications’, which he considers are necessary to make the Plan ‘sound’ and/or legally compliant. The Main Modifications have been subject to a Sustainability Appraisal by the Council and an Addendum report to the Sustainability Appraisal has been produced. The proposed Main Modifications are now subject to a public consultation, which runs from 3 April to 15 May 2025.
This consultation is on the proposed Main Modifications only and not on matters relating to other aspects of the Plan, which have already been considered by the Inspector during the Examination process and/or hearing sessions. Before issuing his final report, the Inspector will consider all relevant responses, and may make amendments to the detailed wording of the Main Modifications and/or add consequential modifications where he considers this necessary.
Please note that the questions at this final stage are technical in nature and relate to the legal compliance and soundness of the Plan. It’s helpful to have some prior knowledge of the Local Plan but you do not need to have taken part in previous consultations to respond. The Planning Inspectorate has produced a helpful series of short videos which explain a bit more about the process which can be viewed on the Local Plan website Examination Overview – Spelthorne Takes Shape
The Main Modifications are accompanied by supporting consultation documents.
Those wishing to respond can do so via the consultation website, by emailing local.plan@spelthorne.gov.uk or writing to the Strategic Planning Team at the Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines.
28 February 2025
An updated Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) between A2Dominion Group and Spelthorne Borough Council was signed today. The SoCG relates to two sites SC1/021: Land at Spelthorne Grove and SN1/012: Stanwell Bedsits, De Havilland Way. Both sites are owned by A2Dominion Group and are allocated within the Local Plan.
19 February 2025
The Local Plan Examination hearings concluded yesterday on 18 February. When finalised the Schedule of Modifications will be published.
17 February 2025
Since the Local Plan Examination Hearings last week, the Schedule of Local Plan Main Modifications has been further updated following the hearing sessions held to date, and any further revisions required following the conclusion of the hearings will be published in due course. Policy SP1: Staines-upon-Thames has also been amended and published as Appendix B.
14 February 2025
Following the Local Plan Examination Hearings, the Schedule of Local Plan Main Modifications has been updated to its current version following the hearing sessions held to date and any further revisions required following the conclusion of the hearings will be published in due course. Policies ST3: Local Plan Early Review and E3: Managing Flood Risk have also been amended in Appendix A and Appendix C, respectively. An amendment to Policy SP1: Staines-upon-Thames as Appendix B is forthcoming.
13 February 2025
Further to the Addendum to the SoCG signed by the Council and the EA on 12 February 2025, Surrey County Council have sent a confirmation of their approval of Policy E3: Managing Flood Risk. For reference a document has been uploaded showing the changes to policy E3: Managing Flood Risk requested by Surrey County Council and the Environment Agency.
The Surrey Waste Plan parts 1 and 2 have been uploaded as Core Documents with document references CD034 and CD035 respectively.
12 February 2025
The Council and the Environment Agency (EA) have today signed an addendum to the Statement of Common Ground, which was signed on 14 October 2024. This notes progress on the Sequential Test and agrees some changes to the wording of policy E3: Managing Flood Risk, which were proposed by Surrey County Council as the Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA).
11 February 2025
The revised draft Programme of Hearing Sessions for January and February 2025 has been published by the Inspector on 11 February 2025 and includes participants for each day.
10 February 2025
A Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) between A2Dominion Group and Spelthorne Borough Council was signed today. The SoCG relates to two sites SC1/021: Land at Spelthorne Grove and SN1/012: Stanwell Bedsits, De Havilland Way. Both sites are owned by A2Dominion Group and are allocated within the Local Plan.
28 January 2025
The Council received the Environment Agency’s comments on SBC Local Plan SFRA Level 1 and 2, and Spelthorne Sequential Test and Exception Test Statement. The document is online under Submission documents and Core. documents.
27 January 2025
CD030 – Spelthorne BC Response to Points Raised in Hearing Statements 2025 on Housing Trajectory (24 Jan 2025) has been added to the Submission document. It is the Council response to some of the key issues raised in the Hearing Statements.
A signed a Statement of Common Ground with Spelthorne Borough Council Assets has been published with reference Document CD031.
The revised draft Programme of Hearing Sessions for January and February 2025 has been published by the Inspector on 27 January 2025 and includes participants for each day.
24 January 2025
The revised draft Programme of Hearing Sessions for January and February 2025 has been published by the Inspector on 24 January 2025 and includes participants for each day.
21 January 2025
The Statements of Common Ground for Years 1-5, 6-10 and 11-15 have been updated. They are online under Submission documents and Core documents
Public Gallery
Local Plan Examination Hearings are open for the public to watch. The public gallery is within the Council Chamber. Please arrive in good time for the prompt 10am start. Please note hearing sessions are not being live streamed.
Train station and car parking information
Staines train station is approximately a 12-minute walk from the Council offices.
Visitor parking is available at the front of the Council Offices on a first-come-first served basis. There is currently no overflow parking at the leisure centre next-door however currently the rear half of the Council Office staff car park is open to the public as “leisure centre parking”. To access this, please turn right immediately at the end of the Council offices before the new leisure centre. There is a barrier but this will rise for all cars.
An additional pay and display car park is available at Kingston Road (postcode TW18 4LQ) which is open to the public. This car park is approximately a 12-minute walk from the Council offices.
17 January 2025
The revised draft Programme of Hearing Sessions for January and February 2025 has been published by the Inspector on 17 January 2025 and includes participants for each day.
16 January 2025
A number of new documents have been published over the last few days.
2025 Hearing Statements were published on 15 January. Each is filed under the Main Matter it relates to.
An update to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan – December 2024 was published on 14 January 2025.
The Housing Trajectory updates
- HOU014 – Spelthorne BC Housing Trajectory 618 per annum – Jan 2025
- HOU015 – Spelthorne BC Housing Trajectory 631 per annum – Jan 2025
- HOU016 – Summary of changes from housing trajectory Dec 2024 and January 2025
17 December 2024
The draft Programme of Hearing Sessions for January and February 2025 has been published by the Inspector. The Inspector has issued a Local Plan Examination Guidance Note alongside the Programme.
12 December 2024
Following Cllr Malcolm Beecher’s letter to the Inspector and the Notice of Examination Hearings being issued, the Council has published a series of documents on the Examination Website, providing up-to-date information for stakeholders, to support the upcoming hearings.
- CD004a: Sustainability Appraisal Addendum December 2024
- CD014a: Duty to Cooperate Statement of Compliance Draft Addendum
December 2024 - CD025b: Site Allocations Statements of Common Ground 2024 Update – Site
Allocations Years 1-5 - CD026: Local Development Scheme – approved 3 December 2024
- CD028: Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) 2024 (published 9 Dec 2024)
- CD029: Schedule of Local Plan Proposed Main Modifications 2024 Version – 11
Dec 2024 - ED(CD)018: MM72(24) Revised policy E3: Flooding (sent 25 Oct 2024)
- ED(CD)019: MM12(24) Wording of a proposed main modification for new
policy on “ST3: Local Plan Early Review”. - ED(CD)020 Proposed Modifications to the Local Plan (Tracked Change
Version) – 11 Dec 2024 - HOU012: Housing Trajectory – 6 Dec 2024
- TOP006a: Topic paper 6a: Housing Delivery 2024 update
- TOP008: Topic paper 8: Spelthorne Local Plan: Progress Since the 2023
Examination Pause - TOP009: Topic paper 9: Flooding
- TOP010: Topic paper 10: Local Plan Early review
- NOE001: Note on Oakleaf Farm, a waste site allocated in the Surrey CC Waste
and Minerals Plan - FLD242: Spelthorne Strategic Sequential and Exception Test – Dec 2024 –
DRAFT
12 December 2024
On 12 December the Council published the Notice of Examination Hearings – Dec 2024. The Notice can be read here. On 11 December 2024 the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher, wrote a letter to the Planning Inspector to provide him with some updated documents and information regarding the Spelthorne Local Plan. The letter can be read here 11 Dec Cllr Beecher Letter to Inspector.
5 December 2024
At a meeting on Tuesday 3 December, the Council’s Environment and Sustainability Committee approved the new Local Development Scheme. This can be viewed here.
3 December 2024
The Council have not yet received a formal response from the Inspector following the letter sent on 25 October 2024. This website will be updated as soon as we hear back.
25 October 2024
Following the meeting of Council on the 24th of October the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher, wrote a letter to the Planning Inspector to inform him of the outcome of the meeting and to request the resumption of the Local Plan Examination. The letter can be found here: E&S Chair letter to Inspector – 25 Oct 2024
22 October 2024
A report on the resumption of the Local Plan Examination hearings has been published and the Council will be discussing it on Thursday 24 October 2024 at 7pm . Details about this committee meeting (including the report) can be found on the main Council website:
Agenda for Council on Thursday, 24 October 2024, 7.00 pm – Spelthorne Borough Council
The meeting will be live streamed on YouTube. A link is on the main Council website with the agenda and papers.
15 October 2024
Yesterday the Council received a signed Statement of Common Ground from the Environment Agency with agreed revised wording to Policy E3: Managing Flood Risk as appendix 1.
The Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher, wrote a letter to Inspector Bridgwater to let him know that the Statement of Common Ground has been signed, update him on next steps and request that we return to Examination.
23 August 2024
On 16 July 2024 the Council received an updated Level 1 and Level 2 SFRA. It can be viewed under the ‘Flooding’ tab on the Evidence Base page.
21 August 2024
On 6 August 2024, the Council’s flood consultants Aecom received confirmation from the Environment Agency that the produced Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) maps are using the latest modelling and are following the FD2320 guidance. The letter can be found here: EA letter to Aecom
23 July 2024
Following the recent meetings of Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and full Council, on 23 July 2024 the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher wrote a letter to the Planning Inspector requesting resumption of the Local Plan Examination. The letter can be found here: E&S Chair letter to Inspector
19 July 2024
On 21 June and 1 July respectively the Council received comments from the Environment Agency on its updated Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. They can be viewed here and here.
The EA sent a further email to the Council on 18 July, shortly before the meeting of full Council which can be viewed here.
5 July 2024
A report on the resumption of the Local Plan examination has been published and the Council’s Corporate Policy and Resources Committee is asked to make recommendations on Monday the 8 July 2024. Details about this committee meeting (including the report) can be found here:
4 June 2024
On 17 May 2024 Strategic Planning wrote a letter to the EA. The letter can be found here:
Letter to the EA from Strategic Planning – 17 May 2024
On 24 May the Council received an updated Level 1 SFRA. It can be viewed under the ‘Flooding’ tab on the Evidence Base page.
8 May 2024
On 2 May 2024 the EA wrote to the Council and summarised the main issues in the letter and providing detailed comments on the Level 1 and 2 SFRA in Appendix 1.
EA comments to Spelthorne BC – 2 May 2024
On 8 May 2024 the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher wrote a letter to the Environment Agency in response.
Letter to the EA from E&S Chair – 8 May 2024
12 April 2024
On Friday 12 April the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher wrote a letter to the Environment Agency. The letter can be found here:
Letter to the EA from E&S Chair – 12.04.24
21 March 2024
On Tuesday 19 March the Council received an updated level 1 and level 2 SFRA. It can be viewed under the ‘Flooding’ tab on the Evidence Base page.
7 March 2024
On Wednesday 6 March the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Malcolm Beecher wrote a letter to the Inspector. The letter can be found here:
Letter to Inspector from E&S Chair – 06.03.24
5 February 2024
On Friday 2 February the Leader of the Council, Cllr Joanna Sexton wrote to Lee Rowley MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning. The letter can be found here:
Letter to Lee Rowley MP from Leader – 02.02.24
29 January 2024
On Friday 26 January Lee Rowley MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to Cllr Joanna Sexton. The letter can be found here:
Letter to Cllr Sexton from Lee Rowley MP – 26.01.24
14 December 2023
On Monday 11 December the Leader of the Council, Cllr Joanna Sexton wrote to Lee Rowley MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning. The letter can be found here:
Letter to Lee Rowley MP from Leader – 11.12.23
7 December 2023
The Council was asked by officials at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to produce an indicative timeline for resuming the Local Plan examination hearings, as a result of the Ministerial direction to intervene in our plan-making. These documents set out the tasks and milestones required before we will be able to request our Inspector resumes the hearings. The administration group leaders and committee chair and vice chair have discussed and agreed this work programme and as such it represents what we consider is reasonable and achievable with the resources available, incorporating the Member engagement needed during the process.
The documents are in draft form until the revised National Planning Policy Framework is published, which is expected before Christmas, and they will be further updated once we can put dates against the steps in the timeline.
Local Plan – Road to Examination resumption – pre-NPPF draft (December 2023)
Timetable to resume Local Plan Examination – pre-NPPF draft (December 2023)
22 November 2023
On 21 November 2023 Cllr Malcolm Beecher received a letter from the Environment Agency, in response to his correspondence dated 21 September 2023. Both letters are below.
Letter from the Environment Agency to Cllr Beecher – 21 November 2023
Letter from Cllr Beecher to the Environment Agency – 21 September 2023
On 10 November the Council received further information from the Environment Agency regarding sites identified in our emerging Local Plan, specifically the flooding evidence that has been prepared. The Environment Agency have now been able to categorise each comment they have made regarding sites and evidence and have provided information on whether the feedback is critical or advisory. This document has been added to our flooding evidence base.
EA comments SFRA L1 and L2 – Critical and advisory
6 November 2023
On Tuesday 31 October the Leader of the Council, Cllr Joanna Sexton received a letter from Rachel Maclean MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning. The letter can be found here:
Letter from Rachel Maclean MP to Leader – 31.10.23
9 October 2023
On Friday 6 October the Leader of the Council, Cllr Joanna Sexton wrote to Rachel Maclean MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning. The letter can be found here:
Letter to Rachel Maclean MP from Leader – 06.10.23
22 September 2023
Following the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 14 September where Councillors voted to “Extend the pause in the Examination timetable until the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework have been published (expected in the autumn)…”. The Inspector has agreed to a further pause as per the request of the Chief Executive. In the meantime we are carrying on with technical work, and will continue to publish any updates we have here.
The letter to the Chief Executive from the Inspector can be found here.
20 September 2023
Following the letter received on 14 September (see below), a follow-up letter was received from Minister McLean on 20 September.
Letter from Rachel McLean MP – 20.09.2023
15 September 2023
Spelthorne Borough Council held an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 14 September to consider a report which outlined three options on the future of the Local Plan. At the start of the meeting, a letter was read out from Rachel Maclean MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning. The letter, addressed to Cllr Joanne Sexton, Leader of the Council, from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, outlined its concerns that the Council “may withdraw the emerging local plan (‘the plan’) from examination.” This has resulted in national government intervening in the Local Plan process under section 27 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Following this, Councillors voted to
“Extend the pause in the Examination timetable until the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework have been published (expected in the autumn) before determining the next steps and take immediate legal advice to confirm the validity of the minister’s directive”
Today the Council has written to the Inspector examining the Local Plan to request this further pause.
Read the letter from Rachel Maclean MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning. Letter from Rachel Maclean MP – 14.09.2023
The agenda for the meeting can be read at Agenda for Council on Thursday, 14 September 2023, 7.00 pm – Spelthorne Borough Council
8 June 2023
Following the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 6 June 2023 where a motion was agreed to pause the remainder of the Local Plan examination hearings, the Chief Executive wrote to the Planning Inspector to put forward this request on behalf of the Council. The Chief Executive’s letter and the response from the Inspector can be found below:
Chief Executive’s letter to the Inspector – 7 June 2023
Inspector’s letter to Chief Executive – 8 June 2023
22 May 2023
On Friday 19 May 2023 a group of Councillors wrote to the Inspector with regard to the possibility of pausing the Local Plan examination which begins tomorrow, 23 May 2023. The correspondence between the Inspector, the relevant Councillors and the Chief Executive on this matter can be found below:
Councillors’ letter to the Inspector
Inspector’s letter to Councillors
Chief Executive’s letter to the Inspector
Chief Executive’s letter to Councillors
11 May 2023 – Publication of Hearing Statements in response to the Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions
The Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions (MIQs) were published on 6 April 2023. Please see the news item posted below for the link to the MIQs. The Council has been asked by the Inspector to respond to the questions, and participants in the examination (those who responded to the Regulation 19 consultation) have also been given the opportunity to respond. The response submissions, known as Hearing Statements, were sent to the Inspector via the Programme Officer by the deadline of 5 May 2023. The Hearing Statements are now published to view on the Hearing Sessions page of this website. These are set out in order of Main Matter, with the Council’s response posted first against each matter. The Council has responded to every question but participants could choose which matter they produced a Hearing Statement for.
6 April 2023 – Publication of the Inspector’s Guidance Note, Hearing Programme and Matters Issues and Questions
The Inspector’s Examination Guidance Note, Hearing Programme and Matters Issues and Questions have now been published.
The Examination Guidance Note provides further information on the procedural and administrative arrangements for participants in the Examination, including relevant deadlines and how to contact the Programme Officer. Please read the Guidance Note carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the Programme Officer.
Spelthorne Local Plan Examination Guidance Note
Spelthorne Local Plan – Main Matters, Issues and Questions
21 March 2023 – Public hearing dates announced for Spelthorne Borough Council’s Local Plan Examination
Spelthorne Council announces the dates for the public hearings as part of its Local Plan examination, which will commence on 23 May 2023.
The independent Inspector appointed to examine the Spelthorne Local Plan, Jameson Bridgwater PGDipTP MRTPI, has been reading through the Plan, all the evidence that supports it and the representations received from members of the public and other stakeholders. With the examination well underway, Mr Bridgwater is now able to prepare for the public hearing sessions that also form an integral part of examining the Local Plan.
The sessions will be held in person in the Council Chamber, with arrangements in place for virtual participation where required. Those who made representations will have the opportunity to appear at the hearings and speak directly to the Inspector. The Programme Officer will be in touch with those parties in due course. The Inspector will produce a schedule for which topics will be discussed at each hearing sessions, which will be published on the examination website.
The dates for the hearings are as follows, starting at 10am each day:
• Tuesday 23 May 2023 and run until Thursday 25 May 2023
• Tuesday 13 June 2023 and run until Thursday 15 June 2023
• Tuesday 20 June 2023 and run until Thursday 22 June 2023
Notes:
Spelthorne Borough Council examination website: www.spelthornelocalplan.info
Read the representations following the summer consultation at Regulation 20 Representations – Spelthorne Takes Shape (spelthornelocalplan.info)
Regulation 24 Notice: https://spelthornelocalplan.info/wp-content/uploads/sby-local-media/Council-Documents/EDCD001-Notice-of-Examination-Hearings.pdf
20 December 2022 – Planning inspector appointed to examine Spelthorne’s new Local Plan
An independent inspector has now been appointed to examine the Spelthorne Local Plan, following submission to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 25 November 2022. The Plan will guide future development in the Borough over the next 15 years.
This is another positive step forward to progress the Local Plan through to adoption. It has taken over six years to reach this stage and having an out-of-date Local Plan and without a five-year supply of housing has counted against Spelthorne at appeal on developments the Council has refused. There are also other significant benefits the Local Plan will deliver, including family homes with gardens, affordable housing, local infrastructure, sports and recreation enhancements, a new sixth form college and greater protection for our urban open spaces.
The appointed inspector, Jameson Bridgwater PGDipTP, will now contact Spelthorne through the Programme Officer to make arrangements for the examination. The Programme Officer provides the channel of communication between the inspector, the Council and those involved in the examination as the inspector can’t be spoken to directly in order to maintain impartiality.
Tuesday 29 November 2022 – Spelthorne Borough Council submits Local Plan to Secretary of State
On Friday 25 November, Spelthorne Council submitted its draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities for independent inspection. The Plan will guide future development in the Borough over the next 15 years, including affordable homes for residents, local infrastructure, a new sixth form college and offer greater protection for our urban open spaces. The Plan positively tackles the impact of climate change in our borough and ensures important biodiversity is protected.
It has taken more than five years to reach this key milestone. During that time, three public consultations totalling 32 weeks were undertaken on the Local Plan, together with further public consultations on the Staines Development Framework.
Submitting the Plan for examination is a crucial step forward and an independent planning inspector will now be appointed by the Planning Inspectorate to consider whether it is ‘sound’ and can be adopted. This means the strategy and policies will be scrutinised in detail to make sure they are justified and effective and comply with statutory requirements. The land allocated as development sites will also be considered by the inspector.
There will be a series of public hearings held in 2023 where the inspector will listen to all the arguments for and against various aspects of the Plan. The inspector will then advise Spelthorne if the Plan is sound, likely with some changes that will require further public consultation, before the Plan is brought back for a decision by councillors on whether the Council should adopt it. If so, the Local Plan can then be used when deciding planning applications.
There is a new website dedicated to the examination process where residents can view the Local Plan and the supporting evidence and documents required for submission https://spelthornelocalplan.info . It will be updated in due course to contain further documents needed to stay informed, including officer responses to representations made during consultation, any letters received from the planning inspector, information about what stage is reached and the dates and documents for each hearing session, including links to the Planning Inspectorate videos explaining the examination process.
The hearings will be open to the public and live-streamed online. The inspector will be appointed within the next three weeks and the Council will then provide further details on the hearings, which are likely to take place in spring 2023. The inspector will be notified of those who have requested to appear at the hearings when representations were made during the consultation process.
