Core Strategy

Core Strategy background

The Council is required to produce a Core Strategy which will set out a vision and strategy for meeting known and anticipated development requirements to 2027.

This will include broad locations of where significant development will take place and policies against which planning applications will be determined, including an affordable housing policy.

However, it should be noted that it will not identify individual sites for development. This will be dealt with through the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) at a later stage in the process.

Submission of the Core Strategy for Independent Examination

The Council is pleased to announce that it has submitted the Core Strategy Publication Document and all other Submission Documents prescribed by Regulations 30 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 16 December 2011 for Independent Examination.

This submission follows a consultation exercise of the Core Strategy Publication Document in which a total of about 350 representations were received from 87 individuals, resident groups and organisations. The representations covered a range of topics and issues. Judging by the number of representations received and the issues covered, the consultation exercise is considered successful in engaging a wide range of views from different types of stakeholders.

The Documents submitted to the Secretary of State are as follows;

Further detailed information on Woking 2027 are available to view on the Council's dedicated Local Development Framework website. The address is www.woking2027.info.

Hard Copies of the above documents are also available for inspection at the following venues:

(Please see www.surreycc.gov.uk for the addresses of the libraries and note the temporary relocation of Woking library. Please see Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council website for dates of bank holiday closure.)

The Council has also prepared the following Self Assessment Documents:

• Topic Paper: Self Assessment of the Conformity of the Core Strategy Publication Document

• Self Assessment of Tests of Soundness and Legal Requirements

These documents are also available to view on the Council's Local Development Framework website: www.woking2027.info.

Paper copies are available on request from the Planning Policy Team (01483 743871).

The Core Strategy is informed by a comprehensive evidence base, which comprise of a number of research projects undertaken by the Council.

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What's next?

It is expected that an Independent Planning Inspector will be appointed by the Secretary of State to undertake an Examination of the Core Strategy. All representations made to the Core Strategy Publication Document, the Sustainability Appraisal Report and the Proposals Map have already been sent to the Secretary of State for consideration. Hard copies of these documents can be inspected at the Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking on Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.45pm.

The Inspector will determine whether a public hearing is necessary, when that is likely to be and who should be invited to attend to give evidence. The Inspectorate has indicated that it is normal practice for the Independent Examination to be help either 10 weeks or 14 weeks after the submission of the Core Strategy depending on whether the Inspector wish to have a Pre-Examination Hearing. This should give you an idea about when the Independent Examination is likely to be held. For further information regarding the Examination procedure, please visit www.planningportal.gov.uk

The Statement of Representations Procedure is also available to download.

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How has the Core Strategy been produced?

The Core Strategy Document has evolved with extensive public involvement details of this process are available to view here.