The consultation on the Local Plan has started. Exhibitions are running throughout the borough so you can see and comment on proposals for your area. The ten week consultation started on Monday 1 August and will run to 5pm on Monday 10 October 2016.
Banstead Library, The Horseshoe Tues 23 Aug - Sat 3 Sept Staffed drop in Tues 23 Aug 5-7pm, Thu 25 Aug 11-2pm and Sat 3 Sept 10am-12pm
Redhill Library, Warwick Quadrant Mon 5 Sept - Fri 16 Sept Staffed drop ins Tues 6 Sept 5-7pm, Thu 8 Sept 11-2pm and Sat 10 Sept 2-4pm
Woodhatch Centre, Whitebeam Drive Mon 5 Sept - Fri 16 SeptStaffed drop ins Sat 10 Sept 10-12pm, Tue 13 Sept 5-7pm and Thu 15 Sept 11-2pm
Merstham Library, Weldon Way Mon 19 Sept -Fri 30 Sept Staffed drop ins Sat 24 Set 10-12pm and Thu 29 Sept 3-5pm
Merstham Age Concern, Weldon Way Staffed drop in Tue 20 Sept 5-7pm
Horley Library, Victoria Road Tue 20 Sept - Sat 1 Oct Staffed drop ins Thu 22 Sept 11-2pm, Tue 27 Sept 5-7pm, Sat 1 Oct 10-12pm
The Development Management Plan (DMP) will detail where in the borough development will go until 2027 and guide what it looks like. It will translate the scale and broad locations of growth set out in Council’s Core Strategy (the first part of the plan adopted in 2014) into ‘on-the-ground’ development proposals. It will include sites for new housing, shops and employment; zones for things like green space, residential areas of special character and local shopping centres; and policies against which planning applications will be assessed.
Cllr Tony Schofield, Executive Member for Planning Policy, said: “Our consultation covers a wide range of important planning topics. We are consulting on where new homes and other types of development like shops and offices should go, along with the infrastructure and facilities needed to support them.
“We are also asking for views other important planning matters, including the approach to economic and retail development, how new developments should be designed and how much parking they should provide, and protecting our heritage and natural environment.
“Having a Local Plan in place will provide greater local control over where development goes. It will help make sure that the need to provide new housing and grow the economy is balanced against protecting the local environment and providing infrastructure and services. In our plan, new development will be provided in urban areas as a priority. If the Council does not have a plan in place it is more likely that government planning inspectors will decide for us where development will go in the future and what it looks like.
“I urge residents, businesses and workers in the borough to give us their views. This is your chance to shape what is included in this plan. Your views are important to us so please get involved.”
New development will help to pay for local services needed to support the growing communities. The consultation document identifies potential sites for two new primary schools and a new healthcare facility.
How to have your say
Exhibitions will be held at various locations around the borough along with a number of staffed drop-in sessions so the community can find out more and have their questions answered.
To view the full consultation document and supporting evidence or to find out more visit www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/dmp.
There are lots of ways people can have their say including an online survey and an interactive online map so they can easily find out what’s proposed nearby or comment on proposals for a specific area.
Alternatively download a comments form and complete and return it by email to ldf@reigate-banstead.gov.uk or by post to the Policy team at the Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate RH2 0SH.
For those without access to the internet, hard copies of the consultation document and comments forms will be available at the exhibitions, at libraries or by calling 01737 276178.
Following this consultation, responses will be analysed and a draft version of the Development Management Plan will be prepared for further public consultation in spring 2017. It will then be examined by an independent planning inspector before it can be formally adopted by the Council.
Anyone that would like to be kept up to date on this and other planning policy matters can register to be added to our mailing list, at www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/dmp, by emailing LDF@reigate-banstead.gov.uk or by phoning 01737 276178.
