Updated: Residents Vote ‘Yes’ To a New Neighbourhood Plan For the Ash Area

Published on: 30 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 30 Oct, 2026

The new Neighbourhood Plan is intended to offer protection to Ash Green and other parts of the Ash Parish

By David Reading

Residents have voted overwhelmingly in favour of introducing a Neighbourhood Plan for Ash, in a local referendum held in the parish yesterday (October 29).

Updated with local MP’s comment below.

The Plan has been developed by Ash Parish Council, which says the document will give the community “a meaningful voice” in important local matters such as housing development.

The Plan also covers allocations for Local Green Spaces and community facilities, offering those locations additional protections over the 20-year lifetime of the Plan.

The final voting figures were: 1,915 in favour; 236 against; four ballot papers rejected. A total of 2,155 votes were cast, amounting to a turnout of 14.13 per cent.

Cllr Michael Moriarty

Cllr Michael Moriarty, chairman of the parish council, said after the result was announced: “I’m very pleased to see the Neighbourhood Plan has been passed by the residents of Ash, Ash Vale and Ash Green with such a strong approval percentage.

“This is a great day for our local green spaces, employment areas, local shopping centres and community assets that will benefit from the designations they’ve been given under the Plan, allowing these to thrive with new protections.

“While it’s not perfect, due to the constraints of the planning system and what had been designated under the Guildford Local Plan in 2019, it now gives a firm steer as to how the Parish should develop over the next 20 years. I look forward now to the Plan being included in the planning decision matrix that Guildford will need to follow for all developments here in the parish.”

Sir Jeremy Hunt MP

The MP for Godalming & Ash, Sir Jeremy Hunt, said: “Residents have spoken resoundingly! Great to see the Ash Neighbourhood Plan backed by almost 89 per cent of those who voted.

“A hugely welcome result for Ash, Ash Vale and Ash Green, giving residents a stronger voice in shaping development and protecting the places they value. Congratulations to Ash Parish Council and everyone who worked hard to bring the plan to this stage. Local voices matter!”

One key objective is to retain Ash Green’s identity as an independent village, separate from the Ash and Tongham built-up area that contains Ash and Ash Vale.

The Plan defines a Local Gap between Ash and Ash Green as shown on the Proposals Map for the purpose of preventing the coalescence of the housing settlements. Under the Plan, development should not be permitted in this area if it would result in the joining of the two settlements, or the erosion of their separate identities by virtue of their closer proximity.

It is important to remember that while the Neighbourhood Plan gives the local community significant influence, it cannot be used to prevent the development needed to meet present and future housing needs across the borough. GBC has told us: “Instead, they help ensure that growth happens in a way that reflects local aspirations and strengthens the character of the area.”

Ash Parish Council has said the policies written into the Plan will not be affected by next year’s local government reorganisation.