Guildford Borough - Formal Start of Local Plan 2029 Preparation
Guildford Council has announced that it is moving forward to prepare a new Guildford Local Plan complaint with the new Government's plan-making system which is aimed at the speedier development of Local Plans and their ongoing maintenance.
Although work on a new Local Plan has been underway for a considerable time, the introduction of the new planning system has impacted timescales to an extent. The Council has now formally committed to start the plan preparation process as at 5th June 2026.
The Table below shows when key stages and consultations are planned to take place with the new plan being adopted April 2029.
The plan will cover the current GBC Boundary and will be conducted by GBC Planning Department that will migrate and evolve as the West Surrey Council starts operation.
The Local Plan Process is supported by several new initiatives including the revised NPPF and ultimately the production of Spatial Plans.
The current Plan adopted in 2019 remains in force except where new government regulations cause change. The biggest change for Guildford is the demand from Government for the Borough to provide double the housing numbers and also the impact of the new NPPF Greybelt policies.
|
When |
Stage |
What does this mean? |
|---|---|---|
|
5 June 2026 |
Publish notice of intention to commence local plan preparation |
This commences the minimum 4‑month notice period so that stakeholders are aware plan‑making is beginning. |
|
2 September 2026 |
Start of the first formal consultation (notice of scoping consultation) |
We will seek feedback from stakeholders on how to engage with them and what the plan should contain. |
|
14 October 2026 |
Date by which representations need to have been received |
The consultation will run for a 6-week period. |
|
30 October 2026 |
Gateway 1: self‑assessment of readiness |
Publication of a document setting out details of how we have gotten ready for plan‑making. This marks formal commencement of plan‑making for the purposes of Government's 30‑month timeframe. |
|
7 April 2027 |
Start of the second formal consultation (notice of proposed plan content and evidence consultation) |
We will seek feedback from stakeholders on proposed local plan content and evidence, including a draft vision. It will also include the proposed spatial strategy and any initial draft policies. |
|
19 May 2027 |
Date by which representations need to have been received |
The consultation will run for a 6-week period. |
|
1 September 2027 |
Gateway 2 |
We will seek observations and advice from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to help identify and resolve potential soundness issues at an early stage, and to ensure the plan is progressing towards meeting the statutory and policy requirements set out in legislation and national planning policy. |
|
1 March 2028 |
Start of the third formal consultation (notice of proposed local plan consultation) |
We will seek feedback from stakeholders on the proposed local plan. This is the version of the Local Plan that we intend to submit to the Secretary of State for examination. |
|
26 April 2028 |
Date by which representations need to have been received |
The consultation will run for an 8-week period. |
|
25 August 2028 |
Gateway 3: prescribed requirements assessment |
We will seek observations and advice from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to test if the proposed Local Plan meets the statutory and policy requirements set out in legislation and national planning policy, that all submission documents have been prepared and that the Local Plan is ready to proceed to examination. |
|
29 September 2028 |
Examination |
A 6-month examination of the Local Plan by an independent Planning Inspector to test whether the plan meets all legal and soundness requirements. |
|
30 April 2029 |
Adoption |
Publication of the Local Plan and adoption statement. |
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