3.1: Preparing a local plan is a complex process. Thinking early about how the work is planned, resourced and governed helps us monitor progress and keep the work on track as well as identifying and managing risks to delivery.
3.2: Project management is being undertaken within the Planning Policy and Conservation team. We have set out our project management and governance arrangements in a Project Initiation Document (PID) which will be used internally by officers and Members to ensure we are able to progress the LPR in line with the timetable having regard to the following:
- Governance arrangements –we have identified how decisions will be made at key points in the process as far as we are able up to the creation of West Surrey Council. In June 2026 the Council’s Executive agreed a programme of delegated authority for progressing the LPR up to Gateway 1 as well as agreeing the LPR timetable. The Built Environment and Regulation Portfolio holder has delegated authority to update the LPR timetable;
- Budgets and resourcing – we have identified financial and staff resourcing for preparing the LPR as far as we are able to up to the creation of West Surrey Council;
- Approach to engagement – as set out in Section 4 we have consulted on our approach to engagement in the Draft Engagement Strategy;
- Risks – we have identified key risks to delivering the LPR within 30 months and how these risks will be monitored.
3.3: Much of the PID is likely to only be relevant until 31 March 2027 and will be updated following the creation of the West Surrey Council.