Council moves forward with Proposed Submission Local Plan

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is moving forward with its Proposed Submission Local Plan, which will be debated at the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee meeting on 20 November at 7.30pm. At this meeting members of the Committee will make their recommendation to Full Council, scheduled to take place in December.

Councillor Peter O’Donovan, Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, said: “The Local Plan is a vital and cross-cutting document which will shape how our borough develops in the future, from developing our local economy, supporting businesses and creating jobs, improving leisure and visitor facilities to identifying sites for new homes, including affordable accommodation; as well as protecting and enhancing our natural environment, ensuring environmental protection and higher standards for biodiversity, supporting more sustainable forms of travel, and securing much needed infrastructure improvements.

We recognise that there will be mixed reactions to the final document, and members must make some difficult decisions on behalf of all residents in the borough, both current and future.

There is now a full suite of Evidence Base reports to support the Proposed Submission Local Plan, including feedback from last year’s Regulation 18 consultation: this means the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee can debate the plan at Committee and make a recommendation to Full Council.

I urge anyone who is interested in the borough’s Local Plan to read the Evidence Base reports on the council’s website and watch the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee meeting next week.

We are committed to delivering a Local Plan that benefits our residents and secures a thriving future for our borough.”

The next public consultation on the Local Plan (Regulation 19) will take place at the earliest opportunity following approval by Full Council. If you would like to be kept updated on when the next consultation is taking place, please visit https://epsom-ewell.inconsult.uk/(link is external), and enter your details via the ‘Register’ tab.

Save Epsom Green Belt are encouraging local residents to persuade councillors to remove precious green belt sites from the Local Plan. Epsom & Ewell Green Party have launched an ePetition to save Epsom & Ewell’s Green Belt. This ePetition runs till 02/12/2024 and needs at least 1500 signatures. For more details or  To Sign it, CLICK HERE