East Surrey Councillor Wants to Start Local Planning Now

Published on: 5 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 5 Oct, 2026

Cllr Bradley Nelson East Surrey Liberal Democrats

James Moules

local democracy reporter

A leading councillor on East Surrey’s shadow authority is imploring the government to let them start work on the area’s Local Plan before it replaces the existing district councils next year.

Under the current system, Surrey’s 11 district councils are each responsible for drawing up their local plans – which are vital in setting out long term planning and infrastructure priorities for the years ahead.

These councils are all slated to be abolished next year along with Surrey County Council in a major local government shake-up.

West and East Surrey councils will be established in their place, each of which will hold all local government responsibilities for their respective areas – including planning and housing.

But the “shadow authorities” elected earlier this year only have limited powers that are almost entirely geared towards setting up the two new councils, and cannot yet perform any normal local government functions including drawing up a local plan.

East Surrey’s planning lead Cllr Bradley Nelson (Lib Dem, Dorking) has written to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook urging him to grant the shadow authority the power to get to work on drafting its Local Plan.

In his letter, Cllr Nelson wrote: “The government and your department have made clear that increased rates of housebuilding are crucial to tackling the housing crisis, and an important piece of the wider growth mission.

“East Surrey Council supports this mission and is intent to have an East Surrey wide local plan that will enable us to direct housing growth in line with a spatial vision and vision for growth that ensures the best outcomes for the residents of East Surrey.”

At present, several districts that will be absorbed into East Surrey – including Elmbridge, Reigate & Banstead, and Tandridge – are either continuing work on existing plans or preparing fresh ones under new planning rules.

Cllr Nelson added: “If the government is true to its mission of growth, recognising the key part to play of development to reach that goal and the importance of plan making for local authorities to deliver this, then will you consider arrangements that allows East Surrey Council to make better use of these next six months before vesting day, and save already limited staff resources of the existing five districts and boroughs?”

He also called on the Housing Minister to meet with him and his team to discuss how the shadow authority can begin a local plan as soon as possible, saying it could help save resources for councils that will soon cease to exist.

However, East Surrey opposition leader Cllr David Lewis (Con, Cobham & Oxshott South) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he thinks it is “unrealistic” to expect this request to be agreed.

He said: “East Surrey is a shadow authority. It does not have the resources which would be needed to begin work on developing a new local plan prior to vesting day.

“East Surrey Conservatives believe that the Liberal Democrat run East Surrey Shadow Authority should focus its efforts on delivering the local government reorganisation implementation plan to ensure that the new East Surrey Council is able to deliver the key services required by its residents on the 1st April 2027.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government did not respond to the LDRS’ request for comment.