Check planning policies and constraints

Before you submit a planning application, check planning policies and guidance and planning constraints, including conservation areas, listed buildings and Tree Preservation Orders.

We assess planning applications against the Local Development Plan and national policies which are listed below.

National planning policy

National planning policies for England are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework – GOV.UK. 

The Local Development Plan 

The Local Development Plan is a collection of policies that sets out the vision for Woking's development. It sets out how areas will change and describes where development will take place and where it will not.

Proposals Map

The Local Development Plan also includes a Proposals Map, showing areas of protection.

View the Proposals Map – Woking 2027

Supplementary planning documents and guidance

We have produced supplementary planning documents and guidance to the Local Development Plan. They provide detailed information to help you to understand the planning policies.

Check planning constraints

Before you submit a planning application, you should be aware of any planning constraints that may affect your application. 

Some of the more common planning constraints include:

  • conservation areas
  • listed buildings
  • flooding
  • the green belt
  • Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)

For more information, go to the Proposals Map – Woking 2027.

Conservation areas

There are 27 conservation areas in Woking that are considered to have special architectural or historical interest. 

Find out more about conservation areas.

Listed buildings

The aim of listing a building is to give it statutory protection from changes that will affect its special character. You must have listed building consent (and maybe planning permission too) before altering, extending or demolishing any part of a listed building inside or out.

Find out more about listed buildings.

Tree Preservation Orders

Many individual trees, groups of trees or woodlands across the region are protected by Tree Preservation Orders if their removal would have a significant impact on an area. Permission is required for the felling or pruning of any protected trees.

Find out more about Tree Preservation Orders.

Get pre-application advice

These are some of the potential planning constraints. You are advised to seek pre-application planning advice.