5.1: Scoping includes considering how well the existing local plan is working and gathering baseline information about the area. The Council is in the late stages of preparing the Surrey Heath Local Plan 2019 – 2038 and so as yet these new Policies are not in place and have not been monitored.
5.2: To gain an understanding of the development needs for the Borough we have looked at:
- Data about the Borough from sources such as the Census and Indices of Multiple Deprivation;
- Data in other plans and strategies such as the Council Strategy and the Economic Development Strategy;
- Data about local development such as housing and employment delivery and monitoring of existing development plan policies from the Authority Monitoring Reports which can be found on the Monitoring the Local Plan webpage; and,
- The requirements of national planning policy and guidance including the housing requirement that Government has identified.
5.3: Baseline information has been set out in the Surrey Heath LPR Baseline Report (available on the evidence base webpage) which was published alongside the Scoping consultation. Other evidence, in particular the Strategic Environmental Assessment below will also include baseline information to help inform the development of the LPR.
5.4: The Scoping consultation mentioned in Section 4 above asked stakeholders a number of questions to help inform the scope and content of the LPR. These included views on matters such as:
- The location of future development in the Borough and how to meet increased development needs;
- The approach to climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- The types of new homes that should be provided;
- How the LPR can support our town, district and local centres and economic growth;
- How to ensure appropriate infrastructure is provided;
- The protection of built and natural environment assets;
- The identification of locally specific Green Belt issues; and,
- How to ensure high-quality design and make effective use of land.
5.5: The responses to the Scoping consultation are currently being analysed but will help to inform the draft Local Plan Vision and the scope of policies that will be the subject of further consultation. A Summary of Scoping consultation will be published next year setting out who we consulted, how we consulted them, the main issues raised and how the Council has responded to these.