How we got ready to prepare a new local plan
Spelthorne Borough Council formally started preparing a new Local Plan on 19th October 2026.
The new Local Plan will guide how the borough develops up to 2038, helping to deliver homes, jobs, infrastructure and environmental improvements while protecting the qualities that make Spelthorne a distinctive place to live, work and visit.
Under the Government’s new plan making system, local planning authorities are expected to prepare and adopt a local plan within 30 months. To help achieve this, councils must complete a series of Gateway assessments demonstrating that they are ready to progress through plan preparation.
This page explains the work undertaken by the Council before formally starting to prepare the new Local Plan and beginning the 30-month timeframe. It also has links to further information and where you can get updates.
We published a timetable for preparing the plan
We published the on 19 June 2026 at the commencement of plan-making. Following a review of the programme, an updated timetable has been published as part of Gateway 1 on 19 October 2026 and is available here: Local Plan Timetable. The timetable sets out the key stages of plan preparation of the emerging strategy, submission of the plan for independent examination and adoption.
The timetable provides a clear programme which allows residents, businesses, stakeholders and elected Members to understand when key decisions and consultation stages will take place.
Under the new plan-making system, there are three Gateway stages.
Gateway 1 confirms that the Council has the necessary foundations in place to begin preparing a Local Plan. Gateways 2 and 3 will involve further discussions with Government, the Planning Inspectorate and other key stakeholders as the plan develops.
The Council is confident that the project programme, governance arrangements and resourcing framework provide a strong basis for preparing and adopting the Local Plan within the required timeframe.
We established project management and governance arrangements
Preparing a local plan is a significant corporate project requiring input from services across the council as well as infrastructure providers, neighbouring authorities, statutory consultees and local communities.
To support preparation of the new Local Plan, the Council has established project management and governance arrangements including:
- a dedicated Local Plan team;
- regular project management and officer coordination meetings;
- Member Briefings and engagement sessions;
- corporate reporting and oversight arrangements;
- risk management and programme monitoring processes; and
- arrangements for engagement with external partners and stakeholders.
A project initiation document has been prepared which sets out our objectives, governance arrangements, resources, consultation activities, risks and mitigation measures. This document will be reviewed and updated throughout plan preparation.
Our project initiation document can be found - https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1792405844/projects/6a16bfe755eda18fbd088f35/media-upload/Spelthorne%20Local%20Plan%20Project%20Initiation%20Document%20%28PID%29_V1.pdf/xilbuv0wwqvv9iq0hu95.pdf
We planned how we’ll consult on the plan
Community engagement is essential to preparing a successful local plan.
The Council undertook an initial scoping consultation between 22 June 2026 and 3 August 2026. The purpose of the consultation was to seek views on the challenges, opportunities and priorities that the new Local Plan should address, as well as how people would like to be involved in future consultations.
Responses were received from residents, community groups, businesses, developers, infrastructure providers, statutory consultees and neighbouring authorities.
Several key themes emerged:
- delivering homes that meet local needs;
- supporting economic growth and investment;
- protecting Green Belt and open spaces;
- improving infrastructure and transport networks;
- addressing climate change and environmental sustainability;
- reducing flood risk and increasing resilience;
- enhancing biodiversity and green infrastructure; and
- supporting vibrant town and local centres.
The Council will continue to engage with communities and stakeholders throughout plan preparation and will ensure opportunities are provided for people to influence the content of the Local Plan at key stages.
Our Local Plan Scoping Report Summary can be found here: Scoping Report Summary
We began scoping the content of the plan
The Council has undertaken a range of work to understand the key issues affecting Spelthorne and identify matters that the new Local Plan will need to address.
This has included:
- reviewing existing planning policies and evidence;
- analysing the outcomes of the scoping consultation;
- reviewing demographic, economic and environmental data;
- identifying key strategic opportunities and constraints across the borough; and
- developing an emerging vision and strategy
A key objective of this work is to understand how the Local Plan can positively address future housing, employment and infrastructure needs while responding to local challenges such as flood risk, Green Belt constraints, climate change and environmental protection.
Evidence gathering is underway and includes preparation of:
- Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment;
- Playing Pitch Strategy
- Open Space and Recreation Assessment;
- Retail and Leisure Study;
- Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment; and
- Green Belt Assessment
- Climate Change Study
- other technical studies required to support plan preparation.
This work will help inform future decisions on the spatial strategy and policy approach of the Local Plan.
We began a Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment
We’re legally required to identify, describe and evaluate likely significant effects on the environment of:
- implementing the local plan
- reasonable alternatives, taking into account the plan’s objectives and scope
The Council has commenced preparation of a Sustainability Appraisal (SA), incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), to ensure environmental, social and economic considerations are embedded throughout preparation of the Local Plan.
A comprehensive SA/SEA Baseline Scoping Report has been completed, establishing the borough's baseline characteristics, identifying key sustainability issues and developing a Sustainability Framework against which future options and policies will be assessed.
The draft SA/SEA Baseline Scoping Report was consulted upon with Natural England, Historic England and the Environment Agency, and feedback has informed the final version.
This process will consider how community, national and international environmental protection objectives and any other environmental challenges are taken into account in the plan. It will help us to predict significant environmental effects and develop ways of preventing, reducing and offsetting these.
It is important we start this work early and are transparent about how we’re doing the assessment when engaging stakeholders and communities.
The SA/SEA will continue alongside Local Plan preparation and will be used to assess future spatial options, policies and development strategies.
Our SA/SEA Baseline Scoping Report can be found SA_SEA baseline scoping report
How to stay up to date
To receive updates on plan-making in Spelthorne, you can register for updates via: Have Your Say Today - Spelthorne Borough Council Local Plan - Commonplace
Latest news and information on the progress of our next Local Plan will be provided as planning news on Keep in Touch with Lest News - Spelthorne Borough Council Local Plan - Commonplace
Local Plan consultations will be hosted on engagement hub Have Your Say Today - Spelthorne Borough Council Local Plan - Commonplace