Surrey Council Leaders Warn Region is ‘Already Straining at the Seams’ as GBC Submits Local Plan

Published on: 14 Dec, 2017
Updated on: 14 Dec, 2017

Guildford Borough Council (GBC) leader Paul Spooner failed to respond to a request to comment on news that all 11 of Surrey’s borough and district councils have written to the Secretary of State expresses concerns about the amount of housing development expected in the county.

The news came on the same day that the councillor announced by Twitter that GBC has have formally submitted its Local Plan for examination.

In a speech reported in the Surrey Advertiser, the leader of Tandridge District Council, which has the highest percentage of green belt in any of Surrey’s local authority areas, said: “Surrey leaders strongly reject the proposals from the DCLG which would see an unrealistic and totally unacceptable increase in the levels of housing wanted or needed within our own districts and within Surrey in general.”

Cllr Martin Fisher continued: “We represent an area in the South East already straining at the seams to accommodate the original level of proposed housing need.”

Council leaders are concerned that a new method of calculating the housing need will result in higher housing targets in areas of high demand throughout the South East. The existing “objectively assessed need” (OAN) calculations have been heavily criticised because consultants carrying out the calculations have insisted that their formula must remain “commercial in confidence”.

One of the worries is that constraints on housing numbers due to green belt will, under the new system, be ignored. This might be less of a concern for GBC who, to the dismay of its critics, applied no constraints in the Local Plan calculations.

Susan Parker (GGG, Send) leader of the Guildford Greenbelt Group commented: “It seems deeply ironic to have this publicity, about protecting the green belt, on the same day as Guildford Borough Council submitted its local plan to the Planning Inspectorate.

“Guildford has a very high formal Objective Assessment of Housing Need within its Local Plan. That is the only justification for GBC planning to build approximately 70% of proposed new homes on green belt. That high calculation has been challenged by independent experts.

“In response, GBC has threatened the people of this borough with the spectre of even higher housing assessments being imposed by central government if the plan does not go forward. This has allowed it to force through aggressive, pro-development proposals.

“However, let’s remember GBC and the government are run by the same political party, party members talk to their MPs, and if anyone thinks that Downing Street is unaware of our little local controversies, they might recall that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has a house in Send.

“Conservative central government proposals to increase housing numbers in Guildford even further – which then give the local party the appearance of protecting the green belt (despite all our experiences to the contrary) – appear somewhat stage-managed.”

In a press release, GBC confirmed that it had formally submitted the Local Plan for Guildford Borough to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid.

The press release states: “We have just achieved a major milestone in developing our new Local Plan by submitting it to the government’s planning inspectorate.

Council leader Paul Spooner said: “Our plan is about enabling people to thrive, wherever they live or work in the borough, and submitting our plan to the Secretary of State is a significant achievement and move forward for the future of Guildford.

“Local people need a range of homes, especially affordable, a successful economy with great work prospects, good education choices and protected heritage and countryside. Alongside better transport and travel options to support them. Our new Local Plan is the best way to provide these and will enable the council to tackle local issues and balance community needs across the whole borough.

“The next stage of reviewing the plan is now in the hands of the planning inspectorate. After the government appoints them, an independent planning inspector will control and manage the examination, including a set of public hearings.”

Cllr Spooner added: “The plan also aims to put control about how our borough evolves firmly in local hands. Without a plan in place that allows us to consider the bigger picture there is a greater risk of a piecemeal approach driven by developers or those outside the borough. It should also be noted that the Submission Local Plan will now carry some weight in our decision making process. This weight will increase as the plan progresses towards full adoption.

“Although we have now submitted our plan, it is still vital that strategic partners complete their supporting transport and other infrastructure projects. That way we can deliver the new plan in full and give our residents and future generations the great environment, homes and jobs they need.”

The full council agreed on November 21 that the plan, supporting evidence and consultation comments could be submitted to the Secretary of State. These documents have now been delivered to the planning inspectorate.

They are also available to view online on the GBC website at:  www.guildford.gov.uk/newlocalplan

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