Welcome to our latest Planning Policy Newsletter. Since our last newsletter in January 2020, the world has significantly changed. The Covid pandemic and first lockdown, saw policy team members working with our local communities to ensure that they have the support they needed during these challenging times. We have been largely working remotely and holding virtual meetings, though we continue to undertake site visits and are holding some in person meetings.

National planning policy now originates from the recently created Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) (which replaces the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government). There has been the introduction of a new E class use to assist with town centre change and a national design code has been published. Further national changes are anticipated following the publication of the Planning for the Future White Paper in 2020, the Environment Act 2021 and the Levelling Up White Paper in 2022.

Following the Local Plan Core Strategy Review and adoption of the Development Management Plan in 2019 and changes to national policy and guidance, the Council has consulted on and adopted six Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) to provide additional guidance to implementing Core Strategy and Development Management Plan policies. These include: 

• Affordable Housing 2020
• Barn and Farm Conversions 2020
• Climate Change and Sustainable Construction 2021
• Historic Parks and Gardens 2020
• Local Character and Distinctiveness Design Guide 2021, and
• Reigate Town Centre Shopfront Design 2020.

You can view the documents on the Adopted SPDs and SPGs page of our website.

To support more active lifestyles and reduce carbon emissions, the Council has been working with Surrey County Council and stakeholders on a new 10 year Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which was endorsed in February 2022 by both Councils. The LCWIP identifies a number of routes for new investment. The prioritised routes are now entering the second detailed design stage which will include wider community engagement along the individual routes. As these designs are completed, they will progress to the third implementation stage, which will be funded from a combination of Government, County and developer contributions.

In September 2021 Reigate and Banstead Borough Council adopted a new Climate Change and Sustainable Development Supplementary Planning Document to assist new development in this area. The Council’s Environmental Sustainability Action Plan adopted in 2020 encompasses a broader carbon emission reduction programme across the Council and the borough.

Playing Pitch and Active Recreation Facilities Study

Working in collaboration with local clubs, schools, stakeholders, Sports England and national sports bodies, the Council has been undertaking a detailed study and needs assessment of existing sport and active recreation facilities across the borough. This detailed study will be used to inform future investment decisions and help access external funding to support our local communities.

Regular monitoring of the performance of adopted development plan policies and other relevant local data helps us to understand how effective the adopted development plan policies are. The Core Strategy Monitoring Framework sets out the indicators and data that we monitor. Annual monitors are produced by theme:

• Annual Monitoring Report
• Town Centre Monitor
• Local Centre Monitor
• Industrial Estates Monitor
• Housing Monitor (including five-year land supply statement)
• Commercial Developments Monitor
• Environment and Sustainability Monitor

You can view the Monitoring Framework and the above Monitoring Reports on the Plan monitoring page of the Council’s website.

The Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017 require local planning authorities in England to prepare, maintain and publish annually a register of previously developed/brownfield land.

In accordance with this legal requirement, the Council has published its 2022 Brownfield Land Register (BLR) on its website.You can find out more about our Brownfield Land Register or submit sites via this webpage. The Council maintains an “open” Call for Sites for brownfield land and sites can be submitted at any time using the HELAA site submission form.

Infrastructure Funding Statement

The Council published its first annual Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS), in December 2020 and the second in December 2021. These can be viewed on our Annual Infrastructure Funding Statement webpage.

The IFS includes details from the previous financial year of developer contributions collected (through Community Infrastructure Levy and S106 planning obligations), how much has been allocated, how much has been spent, and what it has been spent on. This includes non-monetary contributions provided under planning obligations entered into during the reported year, including affordable housing and additional school places secured.

The IFS provides increased transparency for developers and the public and helps to ensure that communities have information on the benefits that developments bring.

The IFS also includes the infrastructure projects or types of infrastructure that the Council intends to fund (at least in part) using the “strategic” 80% of CIL funds collected.

Community Infrastructure Levy Strategic Fund

The majority (80%) of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) developer contributions are collected into the CIL Strategic Fund. The Council operates an ongoing five-year programme of projects to be funded (at least in part) by the Strategic CIL, the Strategic Infrastructure Programme (SIP). The current programme covers the period 2017-22.

A new SIP is being progressed to cover the period 2022-27, with bids being invited from infrastructure providers in the borough.

Community Infrastructure Levy Local Fund

Of the CIL funds collected from development in each area (North East, North West, Central East and Central West) of the borough, 15% is retained within that area to be invested in facilities and services. Recent improvements include new bus shelters, signage, repaved pathways and defibrillators. Horley Town Council and Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council areas retain their 15% Local CIL Funding and choose how to spend this.

New projects may be suggested at any time, either by completing the Project Suggestion Form available on our CIL Local Fund webpage, or through your local councillor.

Development Consent Order

Following Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) consultation in 2018-19 on its draft masterplan, in 2019 GAL committed to submit a Development Consent Order application to the Government for an extension to the northern runway, its routine use and associated infrastructure.  As part of this process, in autumn 2021, GAL consulted on its Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment which would inform the DCO application.

Whilst Reigate and Banstead Borough Council continue to support the economic benefits associated with the airport, the Council’s response highlighted a number of environmental and operational concerns associated with the proposals.   

In December 2021 GAL confirmed its intention to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application (a procedure for nationally significant infrastructure projects) to the Planning Inspectorate in autumn 2022.

You can view more information about the Gatwick DCO on the Planning Inspectorate’s website on the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway page.

Airspace modernisation

Gatwick Airport Ltd has started the process of airspace modernisation as part of the wider Future Airspace Strategy Implementation-South (FASI-S) airspace modernisation programme for the South East.

The airspace modernisation programme is being undertaken as UK airspace was designed over 50 years ago and current capacity for the airspace in the South East is approaching its limits and is unnecessarily causing passenger delay and impacting upon aircraft performance. More information is available on Gatwick’s website on the Airspace Modernisation page and the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) website.

Gatwick Airport Ltd has also started work on re-design of RNAV SIDs for Gatwick Route 4. Route 4 is a departure route for aircraft taking off from Gatwick toward the west. Soon after take-off, aircraft wrap 180° round to the right and head east, flying close to areas of Redhill and Reigate, and over Salfords. More information is available on Gatwick’s website on the Route 4 page and on the CAA’s website on the Gatwick Route 4 - Redesign of RNAV SIDs page.

Both proposed airspace changes are being managed by the CAA in accordance with the CAP1616: Airspace Change Guidance on the regulatory process for changing airspace design, including community engagement requirements. Public consultation on these airspace changes is expected to take place in 2022.

Heathrow Airport

In June 2018, the Government supported Heathrow Airport Ltd.’s plans to develop a third runway through the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS). This was subsequently challenged by environmental groups in the courts on a number of climate change related grounds. The went to the Supreme Court where the decision favoured the Government leaving Heathrow Airport Ltd able to submit a Development Consent Order application for a third northern runway. However, the impact of Covid-19 on the aviation sector has proved particularly severe and there remain other potential challenges to the proposed expansion. As a result, Heathrow Airport Ltd is reflecting on the judgement and focusing on the recovery from Covid-19.  

Further information is available on the Heathrow expansion page of Heathrow’s website.

In 2021 Natural England appointed consultants to undertake a review of the Surrey Hills AONB boundary. The purpose is to consider the inclusion of additional areas into the AONB designation not to remove sites. An initial area of search map was prepared which included the Area of Greater Landscape Value in Reigate and Banstead.

The map was shared as part of a citizen science engagement programme held between December 2021 and the end of January 2022. During this period communities were asked to upload images and reasons why certain locations should be included in the AONB. This was not limited to the area of search.

The information collected along with existing landscape studies and other information is currently being reviewed from which candidate areas will be proposed. Being included in the area of search does not guarantee inclusion in the candidate areas. It will then be up to Natural England to consider whether to go out to a statutory consultation. Further information on the review can be found on the Surrey Hills ANOB Boundary Review website.

The London Plan

After over a year of deliberation the London Plan was published in 2021 and sets out the spatial strategy and housing and employment requirements to 2041. It can be viewed on the Mayor of London’s Website on the London Plan 2021 page.

The South East Transport Strategy

Transport for the South East (TfSE), is a partnership of representatives of 16 transport authorities and five local enterprise partnerships and provides a strategic lead on transport matters. Its 30-year Transport Strategy “A bold vision for a brighter future” was adopted in summer 2020. It aims to integrate different modes of transport so that journeys by road, rail, air and sea work more smoothly together.

TfSE submitted a proposal to government in September 2020 to become a statutory sub-national transport body, in order to bid for government funding, which was rejected at the time by the Transport Secretary. You can view the Transport Strategy and other related documents, including its South East Freight, Logistics and Gateways strategy on the TfSE’s website.

Email:           LDF@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Telephone:   01737 276178

Address:      Planning Policy, Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate, RH5 5TD