Issue - meetings

To consider the adoption of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document and Updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Guidance under Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

Council considered a recommendation from the Environment and Sustainability Committee to adopt the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document, and Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document.

Council resolved to adopt the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document, and the updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Guidance under Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

Councillor Saliagopoulos requested that her abstention be recorded.

Meeting ended 19:17

Committee is asked to:

Recommend to Council that they agree the adoption of:

a)    The Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD); and

b)    The updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPD)

Under Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council the adoption of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document and Updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Guidance under Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

The Committee considered the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Guidance with comments from relevant stakeholders and the public after a consultation period. The Local Plans and Infrastructure Manager set out the amendments to both SPDs as a result of the consultations which included amendments for clarity.

The Committee expressed concern regarding the accuracy of the median price of dwellings in Spelthorne as they felt it was too low. Consultants JJV explained they incorporated data from the Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment evidence, and the table set out in the report reflected the median house price by housing type using data available from the Land Registry.

The Committee noted that the future of existing Section 106 funds would be a matter for West Surrey to consider. The Committee also acknowledged that planning applications were assumed to be viable to provide affordable housing. In practice, the Affordable Housing Policy would provide guidance on methodology and inputs for viability, with 100% compliance as a starting point. The policies would be utilised by planning officers to judge if applications were acceptable.

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council the adoption of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document and Updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Guidance under Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

Committee is asked to consider the consultation draft version of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document be published for a four-week public consultation.

The Committee resolved to:

1.     Agree that the consultation draft version of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be published for a four-week public consultation starting on 8 May 2026, under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

2.     Agree that delegated authority is given to the Deputy Chief Executive in agreement with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, to agree any minor revisions to the draft document prior to the consultation.

3.     Agree that the delegated authority is given to the Deputy Chief Executive in agreement with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, to agree the consultation draft version of the updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and that this draft be published for a four-week public consultation starting on 8 May 2026, under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

Councillor Williams arrived at 19:07

The Committee considered the draft version of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and Climate Change SPD for consultation. The SPDs would not introduce new policies or requirements, but would assist in the interpretation and application of existing Local Plan Policies. The Affordable Housing SPD had been prepared in collaboration with a cross-party Member Steering Group supported by officers and consultants. The Climate Change SPD required minor updates to ensure alignment with newly adopted Local Plan Policies. Both SPDs required consultation before adoption was required at the end of June 2026.

The Committee noted that the adoption of the Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document alongside the newly adopted Local Plan would strengthen the policies. The Committee expressed concern over the possibility developers may not be able to deliver affordable housing, and the alternative approaches for them to pursue. The Local Plans and Infrastructure Manager advised the Committee the SPD provided a Policy that ensured the Council would get the best deal, and without a Policy developers may be able to deliver less. The Government were also due to review legislation around affordable housing provision.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Agree that the consultation draft version of the Spelthorne Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be published for a four-week public consultation starting on 8 May 2026, under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

2.    Agree that delegated authority is given to the Deputy Chief Executive in agreement with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, to agree any minor revisions to the draft document prior to the consultation.

3.    Agree that the delegated authority is given to the Deputy Chief Executive in agreement with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, to agree the consultation draft version of the updated Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and that this draft be published for a four-week public consultation starting on 8 May 2026, under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.