Work on a Local Plan Review was approved at the latest meeting of the council Executive.
The council is required to produce a Local Plan to meet national planning requirements and ensure future development is properly managed.
A new plan-making system was introduced by the government in March 2026. As a result Surrey Heath Borough Council needs to start a Local Plan Review before the deadline of 30 June 2026, set out a proposed timetable and organise delivery of the first stages of the timetable.
Alongside starting the new Local Plan Review, the council continues to progress the Surrey Heath Local Plan (2019-2038) through the final stages ahead of adoption. Adoption of the plan is expected later this year, subject to receipt of the Inspector’s report. On adoption the plan policies will be afforded full weight in planning application determination, subject to an assessment of any conflicts with national policy.
The Local Plan Review 2044 will set out the policy framework for delivering Surrey Heath's future development needs up to 2044.
Local plans are often complex and take a long time to prepare - on average, seven years from start to finish. The new system aims to simplify the process and reduce this to 30 months. Surrey Heath will be in the first group of local planning authorities progressing Local Plans under the new plan-making system.
At their latest meeting on 16 June the Executive approved the publication of the council’s formal ‘Notice of Intention to Commence' the Local Plan Review before 30 June 2026, and publication of the Local Plan Review timetable. Delegation of authority to relevant council officers was also approved to support delivery within this challenging 30-month timetable.
Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Built Environment & Regulation Cllr Alan Ashbery said: “We are required to carry out this Local Plan Review to meet new national planning requirements, and ensure future development is properly managed in the borough.
“The start of this Local Plan Review 2044 overlaps with the end of the Local Plan 2019-38 process. Although this involves a challenging workload and timeline, completing both means we are meeting our responsibilities as a planning authority.
“The Local Plan is key in shaping Surrey Heath's future including how our town and villages develop, protecting and enhancing our natural environment, developing our local economy, delivering more homes, and supporting more sustainable forms of travel.
“We are awaiting guidance over future plan-making requirements once the new West Surrey Authority takes over next year, however the work being undertaken will inform a new Local Plan whatever direction is ultimately taken by the new authority.”
For Surrey Heath the statutory requirement is to start plan-making by 30 June and pass through ‘Gateway 1’ by 31 October 2026.
Gateway 1 is the first of three assessment deadlines to support producing and adopting the plan within 30 months. It requires the council to prepare and publish a self-assessment summary of readiness for local plan preparation.
Following the initial notice being published, a targeted consultation will take place with stakeholders on the plan scope, with supporting work carried out to demonstrate readiness for plan-making. The associated timetable will be published on 25 June.
The assessments for Gateways 2 and 3 will be undertaken by the Planning Inspectorate and determine readiness to progress to the next stage of plan-making.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) may have a significant impact on the production of the Local Plan Review 2044. Future stages within the process will take place after the new West Surrey Council takes over from Surrey Heath Borough Council in April 2027. The government has advised local authorities undergoing LGR to continue plan-making within existing geographies at the moment.