GBC Announces ‘Next Step in Shaping Our Borough’s Future’

Published on: 29 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 30 Aug, 2018

The next steps required to have the Local Plan agreed and adopted were announced by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) this week.

Modifications to the plan were made necessary following recommendations made by the examining planning inspector, Jonathan Bore, which he considered necessary to make the Local Plan sound.

In a GBC press release, a council spokesperson said: “To satisfy his recommendation for about 550 additional homes that can be fully delivered in the first five years; we used our Spatial Strategy, as he found this sound evidence and did not recommend removing any strategic sites from our submitted plan.

“Evidence at the public hearings also showed that increasing development in the earlier years would require allocating additional sites in the green belt.

“We are reaching another milestone in providing much-needed homes, jobs, leisure and other opportunities across our borough…” The GBC Executive will consider the main modifications consultation at a special Local Plan meeting on Tuesday, September 4.

Cllr Paul Spooner

Council Leader Paul Spooner (Con, Ash South & Tongham), also the lead councillor for planning said: “The government’s planning inspector found our submitted Local Plan to be substantially sound on all key tests during the recent public hearings that form part of his independent examination. As with other many other inspections, he recommended that we make some changes before his conclusion and final report, particularly to provide more homes in the first five years of the plan.

“Getting the right balance of sustainable places, jobs and growth that create opportunities for all our communities is essential. Our plan aims to provide a framework to achieve this and we considered the new development sites and other changes asked for by the Inspector very carefully before proposing them in our latest plan.”

Subject to Executive approval, the council will need to consult the public on the main modifications it has have made at the inspector’s request. He can then review the comments before completing his examination and final recommendations to the council.

Cllr Spooner added: “Agreeing this consultation is the next important stage in developing our new Local Plan for everyone’s future, with sustainable places to live and work, supported by vital infrastructure and a great environment. We aim to start the six-week consultation on the changes on 13 September and will let everyone know how they can get involved nearer the time.”

Modification summary

The council summarises the modification saying: “To satisfy his recommendation for about 550 additional homes that can be fully delivered in the first five years; we used our Spatial Strategy, as he found this sound evidence and did not recommend removing any strategic sites from our submitted plan.

“Evidence at the public hearings also showed that increasing development in the earlier years would require allocating additional sites in the green belt.”

Additionally, the council are proposing, in the first five years of the plan period the following increase to an existing site and additional new sites:

• Increasing the allocation at Garlick’s Arch by 50 homes
• Urban extension to Godalming (Aaron’s Hill) – 200 homes
• Village extensions to
  – Flexford (East of Glazier’s Lane) – 105 homes
  – Chilworth (Hornhatch Farm) – 80 homes
  – Send Marsh (Alderton’s Farm – 120 homes

Other main modifications for public consultation and review by the Inspector include:

• unmet need of 20% for Woking as part of the West Surrey Strategic Housing Market Assessment
• new policy – delivery of development and regeneration within Guildford town centre
• changes to various existing policies – including steps in the event of slippage on the A3 investment strategy – said to be a vital supporting transport scheme required to allow development to proceed
• reducing Gosden Hill Farm allocation by 200 to 1,800 homes in total
• creating an allocation for the access to Blackwell Farm – to separate it from the overall allocation to enable better road and landscaping design
• increasing Garlick’s Arch allocation by 150 homes to 550 in total – including 50 in first five years
• increasing Burnt Common industrial floor space to 14,800sq metres – to meet employment land needs.

The GBC spokesperson added: “The consultation will only be about the main modifications. We will provide clear instructions about how to comment in writing on these changes when we publicise the consultation details.”

To view the agenda, report and other information for the Special Local Plan Executive meeting on September 4 – visit www.guildford.gov.uk/council

You can also watch the meeting live – or afterwards in the webcastarchive – at www.guildford.gov.uk/webcasting

Soon to follow: reactions to GBC announcement of Local Plan modifications

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