Neighbourhood Plans

The Localism Act enables communities to produce their own formal plans for a defined area (the neighbourhood area) under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. In this area only parish councils are able to produce Neighbourhood Plans.

They are discretionary, but a community has the right to decide to prepare such a plan if it wishes to. Neighbourhood plans are prepared by the community and set out local planning policies in relation to that area. They have to be in line with national and local planning policy, have to be independently examined and voted on in a local referendum to decide if they should be formally adopted.

You can view information on current and emerging neighbourhood plans below:

Current applications and Neighbourhood Plans

A formal application was made by Burstow Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area and was publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No adverse comments were received. On 15 June 2015, the Council designated the Burstow Parish a Neighbourhood Area.

The area is shown on this map: Burstow Neighbourhood Area Map.

On Thursday 24 June 2021, the Planning Policy Committee, on behalf of the Council, made (adopted) the Caterham, Chaldon and Whyteleafe Neighbourhood Plan. The adopted version of the plan and the Adoption Statement are available to view below:

View an interactive version of the Neighbourhood Plan policy map. 

Background

On 24 September 2020, the Planning Policy Committee agreed to accept all the Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan and that the Neighbourhood Plan as modified could proceed to local referendum in due course.  The referendum took place in May 2021 and the result was in favour of adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan.  

After initial publication of the modified Neighbourhood Plan a minor correction was  made to the area of Local Green Space 19 to clarify the designated area of St Luke’s churchyard, Whyteleafe. This applies to Figure 7.9 on page 52 and Inset 3 on page 77 of the Neighbourhood Plan, and to Figure 7.9 and page 21 of Appendix B. This correction was agreed by the CCW Neighbourhood Plan Group and is supported by the Council.  Paragraph 12 (6) (e) of schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) allows for the correction of errors, in respect of the submission version of a neighbourhood plan, prior to a plan going to referendum.  The Adopted Neighbourhood Plan and Appendix B include this correction. 

A formal application was made by Crowhurst Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area and was publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No adverse comments were received. On 30 October 2015, the Council designated the Crowhurst Parish a Neighbourhood Area.

The map of proposed area in Crowhurst is shown.

A formal application was made by Dormansland Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area was received by the Council and was publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No comments were received. On 28 May 2014, the Council designated the Dormansland Parish a Neighbourhood Area.

The area is shown on this map: Dormansland Neighbourhood Plan area doc

The Dormansland Neighbourhood Plan has had a Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report carried out to determine what potential economic, environmental and social impacts the Neighbourhood Plan may have.

Dormansland SEA Draft Consultation.

A formal application was made by Godstone Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area and was received by the Council and publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No adverse comments were received. On 16 March 2017, the Council designated the Godstone Parish a Neighbourhood Area.

The area is shown on this map: Godstone Neighbourhood Plan area.

On Tuesday 25 June 2019, the Planning Policy Committee, on behalf of the Council, "made" (adopted) the Limpsfield Neighbourhood Plan. The adopted version of the plan and an adoption statement are available to view below:

View the maps associated with the Adopted Limpsfield Neighbourhood Plan.

A formal application was made by Lingfield Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area was received by the Council and was publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No adverse comments were received. On 18 June 2014, the Council designated the Lingfield Parish a Neighbourhood Area.

The area is shown on this map: Lingfield Neighbourhood Area map.

A formal application was made by Tandridge Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area and was publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No adverse comments were received. On 20 June 2017, the Council designated the Tandridge Parish a Neighbourhood Area.

The area is shown on this map: Tandridge Neighbourhood Area map.

A formal application was made by Tatsfield Parish Council to designate the Neighbourhood Area and was received by the Council and publicised in accordance with the relevant Regulations. No adverse comments were received. On 6 June 2017, the Council designated the Tatsfield Parish a Neighbourhood Area.


The area is shown on this map: Tatsfield Neighbourhood Plan area.

On Thursday 17 March 2016, the Planning Policy Committee agreed to refer the Woldingham Neighbourhood Plan to Full Council for adoption. Full Council adopted the Woldingham Neighbourhood Plan on Thursday 21 April 2016. The adopted version of plan and an adoption statement are available to view below:

View the maps associated with the Adopted Neighbourhood Plan.

The purpose of Neighbourhood Plans

Parish councils can use neighbourhood planning to:

  • Set planning policies through Neighbourhood Plans to determine decisions on planning applications.
  • Grant planning permission through Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders for specific development which complies with the order.

The ambition of the neighbourhood should be aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area. Neighbourhood Plans must generally conform to the strategic policies of the Local Plan and reflect the policies in the Local Plan.

Neighbourhood Plans and Orders should not promote less development than set out in the Local Plan or undermine its strategic policies.

The process of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan

As a first step Parish Councils are required to submit an application to the District Council to designate a Neighbourhood Area. Applications will be published on this web page. When a draft Neighbourhood Plan has been produced it will need to be submitted for a formal examination in front of an independent inspector. If the Plan is found to be sound it will then be the subject of a local referendum, if the referendum agrees to the Plan the District Council will then adopt the Neighbourhood Plan as part of the statutory development plan for the area.

The Royal Town Planning Institute and Planning Aid have a Neighbourhood Planning Forum for groups involved in Neighbourhood Planning or who are interested in the process.