Guildford updates its Local Plan timetable

Guildford Borough Council has approved a revised timetable for preparing a new Guildford Local Plan and has formally begun work under the Government’s updated plan-making system.

The new national rules, which came into force on Wednesday, 25 March, introduce legal changes to how Local Plans are prepared, although the Council had already completed substantial preparatory work.

The updated timetable is intended to give residents, businesses and other stakeholders a clearer view of when each stage of the plan will happen. The plan-led approach is designed to:

• meet local needs in a sustainable way
• direct development to the most suitable locations
• ensure homes, jobs and infrastructure are planned together
• provide greater certainty for communities and developers

The process starts with a “getting ready” phase, expected to run until the end of October, followed by the Government’s anticipated 30-month period for detailed plan preparation and adoption. A further report will go to the Executive before the next stage, including a scoping consultation planned for September and October. That consultation will ask stakeholders how they want to be involved and what the new plan should include.

“The Executive’s decision ensures we meet new legal requirements, support efficient decision making, and provide a clear and transparent framework for preparing the new plan,” said Cllr Fiona White, lead councillor for planning.

Responsibility for plan-making will later transfer to the new West Surrey Council on Thursday, 1 April 2027, but Guildford Borough Council will lead the early stages in line with Government guidance that local government reorganisation should not delay Local Plan work. Once adopted, the new Local Plan will replace both parts of the current plan.