Borough Council Issues ‘Significantly Changed’ Local Plan

Published on: 6 Apr, 2016
Updated on: 6 Apr, 2016

Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has published its revised Local Plan that is intended to shape the future development of the borough over the next two decades.

In a statement a GBC spokesperson said that the revised plan contains: “…significant changes that reflect over 20,000 comments and questions received from local residents during the public consultation held in the Summer of 2014.”

Cllr Paul Spooner.

Cllr Paul Spooner, GBC leader, said: “The Local Plan is important for everyone who lives, works or visits the towns, villages and countryside in Guildford borough. We’re lucky to be in one of the most beautiful and prosperous parts of the United Kingdom.

“We’re working hard to protect and enhance the area while meeting our future obligations for new homes, retaining and creating jobs, addressing our transport and infrastructure needs, educating future generations and protecting our culture and heritage.”

One major issue the council is facing is the use of green belt land for future developments. Opposition to its use led to the creation of the single issue Guildford Greenbelt Group which won 13 per cent of the vote and three seats at the last local election last May (2015).

Some Conservative and Lib Dem candidates also fought the council election with promises to protect the green belt.

Conservative newsletter issued in run up to last year’s local elections.

The council statement continued: “With 89 per cent of Guildford borough within the green belt, major consideration has been given to protecting this land. Development is being directed at making better use of land that has already been built on under a ‘brownfield first’ preference.

“In total, across the borough, just 1.6 per cent of greenfield land will be taken from the green belt and allocated for development. In addition, great emphasis will be placed on protecting the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).”

Cllr Spooner continued: “We received a tremendous response during the public consultation and every comment has been considered… We listened to opinions and have changed the plan considerably to take account of feedback.

“Many people asked for more evidence to support our proposals so we have sought the views of leading experts and commissioned detailed reports. This means the Local Plan is based on the best advice and forecasts available.”

The council’s Local Plan, which covers the borough’s needs until 2033, seeks to meet the UK Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that calls for sustainable growth.

Describing one of the main objectives behind the plan the GBC statement says: “The UK Government has called for more new homes to be built so all residents can have a welcoming roof over their heads. Of the new homes proposed for Guildford borough, some 40 per cent will be affordable for low paid workers such as nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others.

“This means more workers can live nearer to their work, helping with recruitment, increasing quality of service and lessening traffic congestion caused by long-distance travel, especially from outside the borough.”

A “consultation statement” will be issued in May 2016 highlighting the changes made to the Local Plan as a result of the 2014 public consultation.

Major amendments include a reduction in the total number of development sites, three new secondary school locations, greater consideration of flood zones, identification of traffic hotspots, locations for improvements where there is heavy congestion, and planned improvements to the A3.

Significantly, Guildford Borough Council is working with many partners to deliver its proposals. For example, Highways England (previously the Highways Agency) will improve the A3 through Guildford, especially the London-bound stretch from the Hog’s Back. Surrey County Council will enhance many other A and B roads in the borough and work to meet the education needs of local children.

Network Rail has significant plans in hand which will allow many more trains each day plus enhancements to Guildford station, the busiest in Surrey. The council is also working with Network Rail and other stakeholders to provide two new stations.

Delivering a joined-up transport strategy is a central part of Guildford Borough Council’s Local Plan, including train, buses, cars, cycling and walking.

Cllr Spooner added: “We need to meet the future needs of Guildford Borough in planned, realistic and sustainable ways. However, we must also protect everything that makes the borough a great place. I strongly urge everyone who has an interest in this borough to look at the Plan in full and see how we wish to improve this area over the next 15 years.”

Cllr Susan Parker.

The leader of the Guildford Greenbelt Group, Cllr Susan Parker (GGG, Send), said: “This is almost unchanged from the ‘trajectory’. The housing number is unsubstantiated and unscrutinised.  Crude calculation of ‘objective need’ is unconstrained.

“Available urban brownfield land is earmarked for shops and offices, not homes, forcing c.70 per cent of new housing onto fields. Election promises to protect the green belt, have been broken, despite the spin.

“The green belt that is most protected is the new area around Tongham. You can fool some of the people all of the time…”

Lib Dem and Labour councillors declined to comment.

The revised Local Plan will be considered at a special meeting of the Borough, Economy and Infrastructure Executive Advisory Board on April 13, 2016. The Executive and Full Council will consider the Local Plan in May 2016.

Further consultation is planned for June, including three public events.

To view the revised plan please click here and scroll down to see links to documents.

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