Local Plan Part 2 Consultation

Residents, businesses and developers are being invited by Waverley Borough Council to give their views on the draft Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies.

The council adopted part one of the new Local Plan in February 2018. This set the overall strategy for development in the borough for the period up to 2032 and contains key strategic policies, including the number of new homes to be provided and their broad distribution. Local Plan Part 2 will complete this work by setting the policies that direct planning application decisions, and will allocate sites for housing in Haslemere and Witley, where individual Neighbourhood Plans are not doing so. Part 2 of the Plan also allocates sites in the borough for Gypsies and Travellers and will review other land designations.

You can comment on the document by submitting your views between Friday 27 November 2020 and Friday 29 January 2021 (inclusive).

The plan and supporting documents as well as information on how to make a representation, will be available to view on the council’s website at: www.waverley.gov.uk/LPP2.

Hard copies of the documents will be available for viewing at the Council Offices, The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HR by appointment only, and other suitable arrangements will be made for those who are not able to view the documents electronically and who are either unable or unwilling to travel to Godalming during the current pandemic. Anyone wishing to make such arrangements should contact the council’s Customer Services Team on 01483 523333.

In addition, the consultation will run for a period of nine weeks, rather than the statutory minimum of six, in order to mitigate any impact on the consultation that may be caused by Covid-19. Following the consultation, the plan will be updated and submitted to the Secretary of State for approval and subsequent adoption as council policy.

Councillor Andy Macleod, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Services said: “The draft Local Plan Part 2 is the result of a great deal of hard work by our officers, detailed evidence gathering, public consultation and working with our partners in town and parish councils across the borough.

“We want Waverley to continue to be one of the best places in the UK, where people of all ages want to live, work and visit.

“The pre-submission consultation, starting on Friday 20 November, asks all interested parties what they think about our proposals for a new suite of development management policies and site allocations, as set out within Local Plan Part 2.

“We want to make sure this plan is right for our communities. The council is very interested in hearing your views and I would encourage everyone to take the time to get involved.”