Ash Seeks to Protect Green Spaces with Its Own Neighbourhood Plan

Published on: 3 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 3 Apr, 2025

Ash has already lost much of its open space to development, such as this land south of Ash Lodge Drive, pictured in 2017. The proposed Ash Neighbourhood Plan is intended to protect the area’s remaining open spaces.

By David Reading

Ash Parish Council is seeking community feedback to shape the next stage of its proposed Neighbourhood Plan.

When approved, the planning document will aim to give the local community a stronger voice in shaping the future of Ash and will have to be taken into account when planning decisions are made.

According to the parish council, the Neighbourhood Plan will seek to protect local green spaces, encourage better design and help ensure the right development in the right places.

In a strategy document accessible to the public, the council says the focus for new development is intended to be on reusing brownfield land within the built-up areas of the parish.

The Neighbourhood Plan will seek to ensure that the remaining areas of open countryside and green belt are protected to prevent coalescence between settlements.

Brownfield development, says the council, will be directed towards sustainable locations near local services, shops and facilities and public transport locations, “strengthening the role of local centres as vibrant, accessible focus for meeting local needs”.

The council says development proposals in the built-up areas should enhance the residential character of each settlement through “sensitively designed” infill and plot redevelopment and continue to help meet the day-to-day needs of the local community in providing walkable neighbourhoods.

A Neighbourhood Plan cannot, outright, prevent development or planning applications but it can influence and shape development in a way that aligns with the community’s priorities and needs. The parish council says it can complement the broader Local Plan for Guildford prepared by the local planning authority (Guildford Borough Council) but focuses specifically on what Ash people want.

Giving an example, the council says a Neighbourhood Plan might suggest:

The number and type of homes to be built to meet local needs
Protection for specific green spaces or wildlife corridors
Design standards for new developments to match the parish’s rural character

The plan reflects a particular sensitivity to Ash Green – which faces the risk of coalescence with Ash and Tongham. The plan envisages a green buffer that maintains separation between Ash Green and the built-up areas beyond.

The council is seeking feedback on what has been developed so far for the Neighbourhood Plan and residents can view the latest proposals until April 13. Last October, at an early engagement stage, the council received numerous responses from members of the public.

Views are sought on various matters including:

Development and place strategies for Ash, Ash Vale and Ash Green
Importance and locality of retail and employment locations in the parish
Brownfield and rebuild development policies
Housing mix, type and tenure
Existing and proposed community facilities

A presentation is available on the council website: www.ashpcsurrey.gov.uk/anp.

There are drop-in sessions at the Ash Centre on Monday, April 7, between 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm.

Feedback can be given online: https://www.ashpcsurrey.gov.uk/ash-residents-engagement-sought-for-next-stage-of-neighbourhood-plan-development/

The Neighbourhood Plan Committee will review comments received from the community and any other key stakeholders over the coming weeks. The Neighbourhood Plan will then be drafted and published for a formal six-week consultation with the community and statutory consultees in the early summer. It is expected that a final version will be presented to Guildford Borough Council in the autumn.

The plan will then be passed to an independent examiner. Following examination, a referendum will be arranged for local people to vote on its adoption in the spring of 2026. Once approved by simple majority it will be “made” and adopted by GBC.