Carter Jonas continually monitors the planning and development landscape across local authorities to locate and manage opportunities. This quarterly news bulletin provides insight and analysis of the current development climate for clusters of local authorities within the home counties. This quarter we look at Surrey and West Sussex.
10 minute read
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND ARTICLES
The latest instalment of the Government’s Housing Delivery Test
(HDT), which is the third, was published in January 2021.
MARCH 2021
Surrey and West Sussex
Local Plan position and 5-year housing supply
Housing Delivery Test data
Development drivers
National Model Design Code consultation
7 local authorities within West Sussex
This map illustrates local authorities individual Local Plan positions and their 5-year housing supply
5-year housing supply >
Horsham
Crawley
Chichester
Arun
AD
AR
CH
CR
H
In accordance with the transitional arrangements in place for the HDT, these latest results are the first year where the threshold for the presumption in favour of sustainable development will be increased to 75%, where it will remain moving forward.
The results of this instalment of the HDT have been adjusted by the Government, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of homes required within the 2019/2020 monitoring year reduced by a month (corresponding to March 2020).
Crossrail 2 is currently estimated to become operational by the 2030s, although no formal funding commitments have been agreed. It will cost an estimated £33 billion
The route is expected to run from north to south from Hertfordshire to Surrey via London. The latest route was consulted upon in 2015 with several proposed stations in Epsom and Ewell (Epsom, Ewell West and Stoneleigh), and Spelthorne (Kempton Park, Sunbury, Upper Halliford and Shepperton)
In November 2020, funding provision for the implementation of the project was put on hold as part emergency COVID-19 funding worth £1.8 billion between the government and Transport for London. However, its implementation remains part of the Mayor’s plans and was included in the recently adopted new London Plan
In December 2020, the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal’s February 2020 judgement that the proposed Heathrow third runway was ‘illegal’, therefore potentially reigniting the project. However, the proposed plans at Gatwick have been buoyed by support given in the recently adopted London Plan, as opposed to plans at Heathrow to which the Mayor notes “strong objection”
Gatwick Airport is going ahead with its plans to convert an emergency runway/taxiway into a functioning second ‘northern’ runway. It is anticipated to open by 2023
In February 2020, an official bid was submitted by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Gatwick Airport and the Manor Royal Business District to become one of the Government’s 10 proposed freeports
The preferred route was consulted upon in October 2020. The proposed route is supported by Arun District Council
The proposed bypass will redirect the A27 around Arundel and the South Downs National Park via the villages of Tortington and Walberton before re-joining at Fontwell (all within Arun) to the south. This has been designed to relieve pressure on the busy A27, redirecting traffic outside of the national park
Contact francis
contact francis
Contact the key contributors to this research:
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
*Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 these provisional dates are subject to change.
explore the list for more information
Glossary
EMAIL DAVID
07866 794560
Partner, Planning
David Churchill
EMAIL FRANCIS
07787 282092
Partner, Strategic Land
Francis Truss
Our regional planning experts work out of five hubs, providing a truly national service for their clients:
EMAIL NICK
07584 681596
London
Nick Taylor
EMAIL EMMA
07973 505576
North
Emma Winter
EMAIL STEVEN
07970 796762
South and South West
Steven Sensecall
EMAIL COLIN
07771 924426
East
Colin Brown
Areas designated as freeports will benefit from tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and wider government support, including relaxed planning controls. The details of the bid are not public
Waverley
WA
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Tandridge
TA
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Surrey Heath
SH
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Spelthorne
SP
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Mole Valley
MV
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Guildford
GU
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Epsom and Ewell
E&E
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Elmbridge
EL
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
E&E
explore the list for more information
Glossary
Woking
WO
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Reigate and Banstead
R&B
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Despite the present situation around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is currently consulting on another document, a National Model Design Code. Our Planning & Development professionals have analysed the document and accompanying guidance notes to provide their thoughts on how the code might work in practice.
These are certainly interesting times to be working in planning and urban design. The Government has great ambitions for overhauling key parts of the planning system, improving housing delivery and raising the standard of design across the country.
View article
EMAIL robert
07771 898954
National Strategic Land
Robert Smith
EMAIL johnny
07557 428136
National Masterplanning
Johnny Clayton
Our national service specialists:
Critical calendar dates
Planning Appendix
Following receipt of the inspector’s final report and the conclusion that a plan is viable, the council can then choose to adopt the plan to make it part of the local development framework (LDF).
Adoption
These stages involve the assessment of a submitted plan by appointed planning inspector(s). The plan is examined on various subjects through hearing sessions, sometimes resulting in further consultation and/or modifications to the plan. Once the inspector(s) is content with a plan, they will issue their final report on whether the plan is sound and legally compliant. The Inspector can also choose to reject the plan. This is a lengthy process and typically takes 8–24 months.
Examination in public (EiP)
This stage of the Local Plan represents the final collection of policies, fully supported by an evidence base, that the Council consider is legally and policy compliant. It is the final stage of public consultation prior to submission of a Plan for Examination.
Regulation 19
These stages of the Local Plan explore different policy options, including the production of, and public consultation on, supporting evidence documents. The most common stages are listed below, although all will not necessarily occur or in the listed order:
• Evidence gathering • Issues and options
• Preferred options • Draft policies
Regulation 18
This means that a Local Plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State for examination, which will commence within the next few months.
Submission
On Tuesday 2 June 2020, a judicial review into the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to reject the emerging Sevenoaks Local Plan was granted by the High Court, on the grounds it was not legally compliant in respect of the Duty to Co-operate. Hearings were held the following September. The challenge was dismissed in November. The Council are currently considering their options.
Judicial review
This stage means the Local Plan was found to be unsound at examination, leading the council to withdraw it at the inspector’s recommendation.
Withdrawn
This is an early stage of consultation but the council has indicated the likely spatial strategy will be taken forward in the final Local Plan. Under this stage, there is still opportunity to promote new sites and influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for examination.
Preferred Options
This is the final draft before the Local Plan is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. There are unlikely to be any material amendments before the plan is submitted.
Pre-submission draft
This means the Local Plan is under examination. The inspector has requested further evidence to be produced by the council to support the Local Plan and is likely to undertake additional hearings to test this evidence.
Additional evidence gathering
This means the Local Plan has undergone its examination and the inspector has recommended main modifications to make the plan ‘sound’. These will need to be consulted on before the inspector issues their final report after which the council can adopt the Local Plan.
Main Modifications
This is the initial consultation on high level spatial strategy options. There remains ample opportunity to promote sites for potential inclusion in the emerging Local Plan going forward.
Issues and Options
EL
GU
MV
R&B
RU
SP
SH
TA
WO
WA
H
CH
CR
AR
MS
AD
Planning Appendix
On Tuesday 2 June 2020, a judicial review into the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to reject the emerging Sevenoaks Local Plan was granted by the High Court, on the grounds it was not legally compliant in respect of the Duty to Co-operate. Hearings were held the following September. The challenge was dismissed in November. The Council are currently considering their options.
Judicial review
This stage means the Local Plan was found to be unsound at examination, leading the council to withdraw it at the inspector’s recommendation.
Withdrawn
This is an early stage of consultation but the council has indicated the likely spatial strategy will be taken forward in the final Local Plan. Under this stage, there is still opportunity to promote new sites and influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for examination.
Preferred Options
This is the final draft before the Local Plan is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. There are unlikely to be any material amendments before the plan is submitted.
Pre-submission draft
This means the Local Plan is under examination. The inspector has requested further evidence to be produced by the council to support the Local Plan and is likely to undertake additional hearings to test this evidence.
Additional evidence gathering
This means the Local Plan has undergone its examination and the inspector has recommended main modifications to make the plan ‘sound’. These will need to be consulted on before the inspector issues their final report after which the council can adopt the Local Plan.
Main Modifications
This is the initial consultation on high level spatial strategy options. There remains ample opportunity to promote sites for potential inclusion in the emerging Local Plan going forward.
Issues and Options
This means that a Local Plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State for examination, which will commence within the next few months.
Submission
Following receipt of the inspector’s final report and the conclusion that a plan is viable, the council can then choose to adopt the plan to make it part of the local development framework (LDF).
Adoption
These stages involve the assessment of a submitted plan by appointed planning inspector(s). The plan is examined on various subjects through hearing sessions, sometimes resulting in further consultation and/or modifications to the plan. Once the inspector(s) is content with a plan, they will issue their final report on whether the plan is sound and legally compliant. The Inspector can also choose to reject the plan. This is a lengthy process and typically takes 8–24 months.
Examination in public (EiP)
This stage of the Local Plan represents the final collection of policies, fully supported by an evidence base, that the Council consider is legally and policy compliant. It is the final stage of public consultation prior to submission of a Plan for Examination.
Regulation 19
These stages of the Local Plan explore different policy options, including the production of, and public consultation on, supporting evidence documents. The most common stages are listed below, although all will not necessarily occur or in the listed order:
• Evidence gathering • Issues and options
• Preferred options • Draft policies
Regulation 18
Mid Sussex
MS
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
11 local authorities within Surrey
This map illustrates local authorities individual Local Plan positions and their 5-year housing supply
Runnymede
RU
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede and Surrey Heath require no additional action, with the former two buoyed by an up-to-date Local Plan. Waverley, having improved delivery since the 2019 test, is also therefore not subject to action. Guildford, which was previously required to implement a 20% buffer, has reduced to a 5% buffer, but is still required to produce a further Action Plan. Mole Valley is required to implement a 20% buffer. Woking now must factor in a 20% buffer to their land supply, impacting their current assumed 5YHLS of nine years, although this is counteracted by the advanced stage of the Site Allocations DPD. The four authorities of Elmbridge, Spelthorne, Tandridge, and Epsom and Ewell move into the presumption. Delivery in each is restricted by the extent of Green Belt.
Tandridge, where over 90% of land is considered Green Belt, is the only one of these authorities that have a Plan at Examination. However, the Council is currently experiencing difficulties demonstrating supply, with the Inspector recently expressing his concerns with the Plan’s objectively assessed need, housing land supply, as well as the deliverability of the South Godstone Garden Community (which would address the need for 1,400 homes in the plan period) following an unsuccessful Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid.
Kent and West Sussex County Councils have previously confirmed their objections to the new runway, citing new flight paths and lack of information. Surrey County Council or second-tier authorities have not announced opposition, with authorities including Crawley currently planning emerging Local Plans with impact of the runway (e.g. noise) taken into account
The project, a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP), is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in late 2021 or early 2022
This is similar to ‘Preferred Options’ stage. It means the council has detailed the sites it is likely to include in its final draft Local Plan. However, there is still opportunity to promote new sites and influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for examination.
Potential sites
This is an early stage of plan-preparation. It is supported by high-level engagement opportunities, including ‘call for sites’. There remains ample opportunity to promote sites for potential inclusion in the emerging Local Plan going forward.
Early evidence gathering
This is a moderately advanced stage of consultation, like Preferred Options. The council have indicated their likely spatial strategy, and this will be supported by draft allocations and the wording of potential planning policies. Under this stage, there is still opportunity to influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for examination.
Draft plan
This is similar to ‘Preferred Options’ stage. It means the council has detailed the sites it is likely to include in its final draft Local Plan. However, there is still opportunity to promote new sites and influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for examination.
Potential sites
This is an early stage of plan-preparation. It is supported by high-level engagement opportunities, including ‘call for sites’. There remains ample opportunity to promote sites for potential inclusion in the emerging Local Plan going forward.
Early evidence gathering
This is a moderately advanced stage of consultation, like Preferred Options. The council have indicated their likely spatial strategy, and this will be supported by draft allocations and the wording of potential planning policies. Under this stage, there is still opportunity to influence the Local Plan before it is submitted for examination.
Draft plan
Housing Delivery Test glossary
Development drivers
Surrey – Housing delivery requirements vs delivery
West Sussex – Housing delivery requirements vs delivery
Housing Delivery Test
Crossrail 2
Gatwick Airport – northern runway
Gatwick Airport – freeport bid
Arundel A27 bypass
Critical calendar dates
Our thoughts on the National Model Design Code consultation
HOME COUNTIES
HOUSING & LOCAL
PLAN UPDATE
Adur
Local Plan position >
10 minute read
november 2020
HOME COUNTIES
HOUSING & LOCAL
PLAN UPDATE
Surrey and West Sussex
Carter Jonas continually monitors the planning and development landscape across local authorities to locate and manage opportunities. This quarterly news bulletin provides insight and analysis of the current development climate for clusters of local authorities within the home counties. This quarter we look at Hertfordshire and Essex.
CONTACT US
Housing
delivery
test DATA
National Model Design Code consultation
Carter Jonas continually monitors the planning and development landscape across local authorities to locate and manage opportunities. This quarterly news bulletin provides insight and analysis of the current development climate for clusters of local authorities within the home counties. This quarter we look at Hertfordshire and Essex.
This map illustrates local authorities individual Local Plan positions and their 5-year housing supply
11 local authorities within
Surrey
Broxbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
This map illustrates local authorities individual Local Plan positions and their 5-year housing supply
7 local authorities within
West Sussex
Surrey – Housing delivery
requirements vs delivery
West Sussex – Housing delivery
requirements vs delivery
EMAIL DAVID
07866 794560
Partner, Planning
David Churchill
EMAIL FRANCIS
07787 282092
Partner, Strategic Land
Francis Truss
EMAIL NICK
07584 681596
London
Nick Taylor
EMAIL EMMA
07973 505576
North
Emma Winter
EMAIL STEVEN
07970 796762
South and South West
Steven Sensecall
EMAIL COLIN
07771 924426
East
Colin Brown
Contact the key contributors to this research:
EMAIL ROBERT
07771 898954
National Strategic Land
Robert Smith
EMAIL JOHNNY
07557 428136
National Masterplanning
Johnny Clayton
Our national service specialists:
Our regional planning experts work out of five hubs, providing a truly national service for their clients:
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND ARTICLES
It is currently unclear how the next instalment will react to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as housing delivery numbers will have been affected by a whole year of disruption, and the 75% threshold is planned to remain. There is further uncertainty following the Government’s plans to significantly alter the existing planning system, including the proposed removal of 5YHLS. This is something we will watch with interest.
West Sussex, Chichester, Crawley and Horsham continue to have no action with strong delivery rates. Adur, Arun and Worthing are now subject to stronger presumption in favour of sustainable development, with the latter two without a 5YHLS. All three are notably constricted by the South Downs National Park. Elsewhere, Mid Sussex is required to produce an Action Plan.
A public consultation is due to take place in 2021, with the view to achieving planning permission by 2023 through the NSIP process, although a formal timetable is yet to be agreed
The Government recently announced that Gatwick Airport’s bid had been unsuccessful
Worthing
WOR
5-year housing supply >
Local Plan position >
WOR
This is an advanced stage of Local Plan consultation, similar to Preferred Options. The Council has indicated its preferred ‘Direction of Travel’ for strategic and/or development management policies.
Direction of Travel
On completion of the examination, Inspector(s) will issue their final report on the development plan document, marking the end of the process. This report discusses the issues raised throughout the examination, outlines any modifications made with justification, and can indicate further work required post-adoption/in the next Plan period (e.g. an early review). Ultimately, it indicates whether the document has passed or failed the examination process. In the case of the former, a Council can then choose to formally adopt the Plan through their own processes.
Receipt of Inspectors’ Report
On completion of the examination, Inspector(s) will issue their final report on the development plan document, marking the end of the process. This report discusses the issues raised throughout the examination, outlines any modifications made with justification, and can indicate further work required post-adoption/in the next Plan period (e.g. an early review). Ultimately, it indicates whether the document has passed or failed the examination process. In the case of the former, a Council can then choose to formally adopt the Plan through their own processes.
Receipt of Inspectors’ Report
This is an advanced stage of Local Plan consultation, similar to Preferred Options. The Council has indicated its preferred ‘Direction of Travel’ for strategic and/or development management policies.
Direction of Travel
E&E
EL
GU
MV
R&B
RU
SP
SH
TA
WA
WO
Runnymede
RU
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Runnymede
RU
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Runnymede
RU
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Runnymede
RU
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Runnymede
RU
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Tandridge, where over 90% of land is considered Green Belt, is the only one of these authorities that have a Plan at Examination. However, the Council is currently experiencing difficulties demonstrating supply, with the Inspector recently expressing his concerns with the Plan’s objectively assessed need, housing land supply, as well as the deliverability of the South Godstone Garden Community (which would address the need for 1,400 homes in the plan period) following an unsuccessful Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid.
West Sussex, Chichester, Crawley and Horsham continue to have no action with strong delivery rates. Adur, Arun and Worthing are now subject to stronger presumption in favour of sustainable development, with the latter two without a 5YHLS. All three are notably constricted by the South Downs National Park. Elsewhere, Mid Sussex is required to produce an Action Plan.
Housing Delivery Test
30th April 2021