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Local Plan Policies - After 27 September 2007, Local Planning Authorities are only able to use those policies from the Local Plan which have been included in a direction issued by the Secretary of State. Policies which have not been included on the list have expired. |View the direction and list here.
Information on this page:
Details are available of the Replacement Elmbridge Borough Local Plan |documents that can be downloaded in PDF format.
All town planning applications are assessed for their compliance with a policy framework comprising Government Planning Policy Guidance and Circulars, Regional Planning Guidance and the relevant Country Structure and Borough Local Plans.
However, changes have now been introduced to the current system. |The New Planning System. On 28 September 2004 the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 came into force and introduced changes to the plan making system. Local Plan and Structure Plans are to be replaced by Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks. These documents will form the Statutory Development Plan. The Compulsory Purchase Act can be accessed on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website at DCLG
|Government Planning Policy Guidance and Circulars
There are around 100 Government Circulars and PPGs which need to be taken into account by local planning authorities when formulating policies and assessing development proposals.
Under the new planning system any new and updated documents setting out the Government's policy framework at the national level are now in the form of Planning Policy Statements (PPS's). These will replace existing Planning Policy Guidance. A number of these have been published to date. These are available at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website at |ODPM Planning.
"Regional Planning for the South East" was published in March 2001 by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. It covers the period up to 2016 setting the framework for the longer term future and supersedes the guidance published in March 1994.
The primary purpose of the guidance is to provide a regional framework for the preparation of local authority development plans and a spatial framework for other strategies and programmes.
The vision of the Guidance is to:
The focus of the guidance is on
The guidance is based on 12 Key Development Principles and contains nearly 50 policies within 8 core chapters. Many of the policies are of a general nature, however, of particular relevance to Elmbridge is Housing Chapter Policies H1 and H2, which define how the additional dwellings are to be distributed annually throughout the Region. The annual average rate for Surrey between 2001 and 2006 is 2,360. The guidance states that where development plans are reviewed and the new plan extends beyond 2006, they should continue to provide for additional dwellings at the same rate until such time as any different rate is adopted following review of the Regional Planning Guidance. The more detailed distribution between the districts within Surrey is the responsibility of Surrey County Council.
This document has been reviewed and updated since its publication with revisions the the Regional Transport Strategy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Tourism and Related Sports and Recreation.
However, a new Spatial Strategy, the South East Plan (SEP) which is being prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) will replace RPG9 and the Surrey Structure Plan. It will extend coverage to 2026 and will form part of the Statutory Development Plan for Elmbridge. The emerging South East Plan is in draft form and SEERA are consulting on this from 24 January 2005 to 15 April 2005. The relevant details and information on this document and consultation process can be found at |SEERA. Key strategies covered in this draft plan are housing, transport, employment, services, energy, waste and the environment. The overall strategy is to:
One of the main issues in the draft Plan is the housing provision that is proposed. The draft Plan consultation at this stage is for the overall rate of growth in the region. Further consultation of district level distribution is expected to take place in the summer 2005. It is anticipated that the new SEP will be submitted by SEERA for examination in November 2005.
The Surrey Structure Plan (SSP) was adopted in 2004 and currently forms part of the Development Plan for Surrey. It applies Government and Regional Planning Guidance to the Surrey situation and provides the strategic framework and planning strategy for land use planning in the County for the period up to 2016.
As part of the changes to the planning framework, the Structure Plan will be 'saved' for a period of three years from the date of its adoption and will continue to form part of the Development Plan for this period, or until it is superseded by the South East Plan. It will provide the policy basis of the first round of the Local Development Frameworks that are required to be in place by 2007 and covers the housing provision for the period up to 2016.
The SSP sets out the current spatial strategy which guides the location of the development within Surrey and sets out the overall objectives for urban and rural areas. Five sub-areas have been identified and key spatial and land use priorities have been established for each of these sub-areas. Elmbridge is within the North Surrey sub-area and development should accord with the following principle:
"to improve the quality of life and the environment and promote an urban renaissance, resisting the outward spread of urban areas and restricting new development to the use of previously developed land and buildings within the existing area"
The remainder of the Plan contains 36 policies contained within three chapters entitled 'The Location of Development', 'Sustaining the Environment' and 'Infrastructure and Development Needs'.
Together the policies seek to:
The Plan also makes provision for a total of 3370 new homes to be built in Elmbridge by 2016 and most of these dwellings are to be developed on previously developed land.
The Surrey Structure Plan can be viewed at |Surrey County Council.
|Replacement Elmbridge Borough Local Plan
The Borough-wide Replacement Elmbridge Borough Local Plan was adopted on 31 August 2000. The Plan incorporates the area included in the Brooklands Local Plan and covers the period up to 2006. It takes account of the changing social, economic and environmental circumstances of Elmbridge, Government guidance, current best practise and the policies contained in the Replacement Surrey Structure Plan 1994.
In essence the objectives of the Replacement Local Plan, which are underpinned by the commitment to sustainable development, are:-
The Plan will provide a strong, up-to-date framework for the planning and development of Elmbridge until 2006.
The Local Plan policy relating to the provision of affordable housing was subsequently amended and then adopted in December 2003. The threshold for affordable housing provision was reduced to sites of 15 dwellings and above, or 0.5 hectares and above. The Council currently aims for up to 30% of the total dwellings on suitable sites to be in the form of affordable housing - contact |generic Housing Policy & Strategy for more details on the type and tenure required.
Under the new planning system the Local Plan will be replaced by the Local Development Framework (LDF). This will be a folder of documents (LDD's) which will set out policies for Elmbridge relating to the development and use of land for a period of at least 10 years. LDD's will contain core policies, development proposals and illustrative maps. These documents must be compatible with the Regional Spatial Strategy. More details about the new planning system are available at |The New Planning System.
The policies in the Replacement Elmbridge Borough Local 2000 will be saved for three years until September 2007 or until such time as they are superseded by Local Development Documents.
|Documents available
The following documents are available for view or purchase between 8.45am and 5pm each working day from the Town Planning Division, Elmbridge Borough Council, Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, Surrey KT10 9SD. Cheques should be made payable to Elmbridge Borough Council.
Copies are also available to view at all the public libraries in the Borough during normal opening hours.
Replacement Elmbridge Borough Local Plan 2000
Borough Residents (£15) Non residents (£40) P&P (£4)
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Elmbridge Residential Design Guidance (SPG July 2002)
Borough Residents (£10) Non residents (£10) P&P (£4)
|Contacts for further information
For further information on local plan polices and the local development framework contact |Town Planning Division
More information
|Residential Design Guide
|Replacement Elmbridge Borough Local Plan 2000 (details)