Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that

(i)            the Draft Surrey Heath Local Plan: Preferred Options (2019 – 2038) and associated Mapping booklet, attached at Annex 1 and 2 to the agenda report, be agreed for a period of 8 weeks consultation from March to May 2022;

(ii)          the Interim Sustainability Appraisal, attached at Annex 3 to the agenda report, be agreed for a period of 8 weeks consultation from March to May 2022; and

(iii)         minor changes to the draft Local Plan and Mapping booklet be agreed by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and People.

The Executive considered a detailed report seeking approval of the Draft Local Plan, together with the mapping booklet and Interim Sustainability Appraisal for public consultation. The Draft Local Plan set out the planning framework for the Borough up to 2038 and once adopted, would replace current Local Plans. 

Consultation on the Draft Plan would be undertaken between 14 March and 9 May 2022. Responses from this consultation and any additional evidence would be used to prepare the next version of the Local Plan.

Members discussed the plans for a further call for Gypsy and Traveller sites and additional consultation scheduled for summer 2022. At that stage, only one specific site allocation for four pitches had been identified, at Diamond Ridge Woods, Old Dean, and was included as a site allocation. The importance of identifing sufficient Gypsy and Traveller sites to ensure the Local Plan was found sound at examination was noted. Members were encouraged to work with their fellow ward councillors and the County Councillor for their area to identify options for small sites within their wards. The Leader undertook to write to all councillors about this matter.

RESOLVED that

(i)     the Draft Surrey Heath Local Plan: Preferred Options (2019 – 2038) and associated Mapping booklet, attached at Annex 1 and 2 to the agenda report, be agreed for a period of 8 weeks consultation from March to May 2022;

(ii)   the Interim Sustainability Appraisal, attached at Annex 3 to the agenda report, be agreed for a period of 8 weeks consultation from March to May 2022; and

(iii)  minor changes to the draft Local Plan and Mapping booklet be agreed by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and People.

Note: In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Rodney Bates declared

(i)            a pecuniary interest in relation to a reference to Gordon’s School at page 242 of the agenda as he had occasional paid employment at the School as an exam invigilator; and

(ii)          a non-pecuniary interest in relation to a reference to the land at Pine Ridge Golf Course in at page 537 of the agenda as he was a community trustee of Frimley Fuel Allotments.