A 'scoping consultation' on the Local Plan Review 2040 has opened, seeking views from stakeholders on the scope of the Local Plan and how they wish to be engaged in the plan-making process.
Local Plans guide development in an area by setting out planning policies and site allocations against which planning applications are assessed.
The government has introduced a new plan-making process which means that Surrey Heath Borough Council must start preparing a Local Plan under this new system at the same time as completing the Surrey Heath Local Plan 2019 – 2038.
The Local Plan to be prepared under the new plan-making system will be known as the Surrey Heath Local Plan Review 2040, and deal with the following matters:
- Setting a long-term vision.
- Identifying development needs over the plan period including for housing, (including for gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople, affordable housing, specialist housing and self and custom build housing), employment and retail and town centre uses.
- The allocation of sites for different land uses but particularly to meet the housing requirement.
- Identifying the need for different types of employment spaces such as offices, industrial space, warehouse space and data centres.
- Defining town centres and setting out the approach to development within them.
- Setting out the need for infrastructure to support delivery of the Local Plan such as transport, utilities, green infrastructure, education, health care, libraries, community centres and sports facilities.
- Setting out the approach to the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.
- Setting out a positive strategy for the historic environment including locally and nationally listed heritage assets and conservation areas.
- Ensuring that the policies and allocations in the Local Plan contribute to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
- Setting requirements for high standards of design, including ensuring the efficient use of land.
There are three formal stages of consultation in preparing the Local Plan Review, of which the first is the current ‘scoping consultation’ which seeks views from stakeholders as to what the Local Plan Review should contain; and seeks views on how future local plan engagement should be carried out.
The consultation runs until noon on 19 October 2026.
Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Built Environment & Regulation Cllr Alan Ashbery said: “This scoping consultation is an opportunity for stakeholders including residents, businesses and community groups to share their views on what topics the Local Plan Review 2040 should cover and how future engagement should look.
"This Review is required to meet new national planning requirements, and ensure future development is properly managed in the borough.
“The start of this Local Plan Review 2040 overlaps with the end of the Local Plan 2019-38 process, which means a challenging workload and timeline, however the Local Plan is key in shaping Surrey Heath's future.
"It will influence how our town and villages develop, aims to protect and enhance our natural environment, develop our local economy, deliver more homes, and support more sustainable forms of travel."
Surrey Heath Borough Council will also be running a Call for Sites which allows landowners, site promoters, communities and those with development interests to suggest possible sites or development ideas to the council via an online form or email. The Call for Sites will open on 21 September and will run until 2 November. More details can be found on our Call for Sites webpage
Further detail on the overlap of the two local plans, changes to the plan-making system, national planning policy and also the implications of the creation of the new West Surrey Council on preparing a new local plan can be found on our frequently asked questions webpage.