Council adopts Climate Change and Affordable Housing planning guidance

02 July 2026

Spelthorne Borough Council has formally adopted updated Climate Change and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs), providing planning officers with strengthened guidance to support the delivery of sustainable development and high-quality affordable homes across the borough.

The documents, approved by Full Council following public consultation, will be used when determining planning applications. They also ensure the Council has an up-to-date planning policy framework in place ahead of the Government's deadline.

The Climate Change SPD reinforces the Council's commitment to addressing the climate emergency it declared in 2020 by setting clear expectations for developers to deliver homes and buildings that are more resilient to climate change.

The Affordable Housing SPD provides clear guidance for developers and strengthens the Council's ability to negotiate the delivery of affordable housing, improves the quality of planning applications and encourage policy-compliant development.

Together, the two SPDs will remain part of the borough's planning framework following local government reorganisation, ensuring planning guidance continues to protect residents while new planning documents are developed by West Surrey Council.

Councillor John Turner, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, said, "The adoption of these Supplementary Planning Documents gives our planning officers the strongest possible framework for making decisions that benefit our communities. They will help raise development standards, support the delivery of affordable homes, and ensure new development is better prepared for the challenges of climate change. I'm pleased the Council has approved these important documents, which will continue to protect the interests of our residents."