Baton Passed at the Burpham Neighbourhood Forum as Local Plan Hearing Preparation Continues

Published on: 23 May, 2018
Updated on: 24 May, 2018

Cllr Holliday presents outgoing chairman Ros Pollock with an engraved cake slicer.

Burpham councillor Christian Holliday was elected chairman of the Burpham Neighbourhood Forum (BNF) this week at the group’s AGM, held on Monday evening (May 21, 2018). Conservative councillor Holliday took over from Ros Pollock who stood down, having held the post for four years.

Burpham was the first ward in Guildford Borough to establish a Neighbourhood Forum and saw its Neighbourhood Plan adopted by the borough council in 2016. The plan is now used by GBC and planning inspectors to help determine planning applications and appeals relating to the Burpham.

The BNF, like many other groups and organisations, has submitted a Hearing Statement to the inspector presiding over the forthcoming Guildford Local Plan, with specific reference to green belt issues and the proposed allocation of Gosden Hill Farm.

All the Hearing Statements received by the Inspector’s deadline have now been published on the council’s website.

The Examination in Public formally open at 10am on June 5 and the initial timetable has been published this week by the programme officer.

June 5 and 6 will be dedicated to discussion on the objectively assessed need for housing. On June 7 discussion will take place on potential adjustment to the housing figure, including meeting unmet need for housing from Woking (Both Woking and Waverley Borough Council’s have registered to attend that particular session) and overall housing requirements for the plan period.

June 12 and 13 are reserved for debate on the housing trajectory and five-year housing land supply (the inspector has already raised particular concerns on this point – see Council Responds To Questions Inspector Asked Of Local Plan).

Full details of the timetables for the first Hearing sessions, including suggested points of discussion and list of attendees, can be accessed here.

Further timetables for other topic matters will be issued by the programme officer in due course. The hearings will be open to the public and will be held in the council chamber at Millmead.

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