Give your views on Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Plan Area applications

Released on 09 August 2012

Surrey Heath Borough Council is asking for views and comments having received an application to designate a Neighbourhood Forum for the Deepcut area.

The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 were recently introduced by the Government, giving local communities greater power to shape local development by having a direct role in deciding the future of the place where they live. Within Surrey Heath, neighbourhood planning can be undertaken by Parish Councils or Neighbourhood Forums, with Surrey Heath Borough Council providing assistance and making necessary decisions at key stages.

In addition, a proposed Neighbourhood Plan Area has been submitted for the Deepcut area which establishes the boundary within which an anticipated Neighbourhood Plan would relate.

A Neighbourhood Plan enables a local community to create a vision and planning policies for the use and development of land in a neighbourhood. They can be general or more detailed, depending on what is important to local people. They must however, conform to the strategic policies in the Council's adopted Core Strategy.

Surrey Heath Borough Council is publicising the applications and asking for comments from members of the public, particularly those who live, work or carry out business in the Deepcut area.

A copy of the applications is available to view in Frimley Green Library, as well as online via www.surreyheath.gov.uk/neighbourhood The website provides a background to the Neighbourhood Planning process and details of the proposed Deepcut Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area. A response form is available to download and complete.

The consultation is open until Monday 17 September 2012.

Any comments received will be considered fully and the proposals assessed against the relevant Council policies and Government advice. A detailed summary of all comments received and any resulting changes required to the Neighbourhood Plan Area will be reported to the council's Executive later this year and a decision made on designating the proposed Neighbourhood Plan Area.

The consideration of the Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Plan Area is a separate process to the anticipated planning application for the Princess Royal Barracks site.