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.

Examination of the Core Strategy

Following the Council's submission of the Core Strategy Publication Document to the Secretary of State on 16 December 2011 the Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that an Examination will be held to consider the soundness of the Woking Borough Council Core Strategy Development Plan Document.

The Secretary of State has appointed an independent Inspector, Mr. Andrew Seaman BA (Hons), MA, MRTPI to conduct the Examination. An independent Programme Officer working under the Inspectors direction has also been appointed to be responsible for organising the programming and all procedural matters.

What happens next?

The Hearings have been scheduled to start at 10.00 am on Tuesday 20th March 2012 in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6YL. Details of the Agenda can be viewed here.

For more information please see the Council's dedicated Woking 2027 website.

For further information regarding the Examination procedure, please visit www.planningportal.gov.uk

Submission of the Core Strategy Publication Document

The Council 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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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.