Planning Consultations
Current Consultations
Draft Design Code Supplementary Planning Documents
We are currently consulting on four draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs):
- Draft Ashtead Design Code SPD
- Draft Bookham and Fetcham Design Code SPD
- Draft Dorking (Town Centre and Outer Areas) Design Code SPD
- Draft Leatherhead Design Code SPD
Consultation Period
The consultation runs for eight weeks from Monday 12 May 2025 to Tuesday 8 July 2025 at 5pm.
The draft local design codes provide detailed guidance to applicants for planning permission for varying types of development and provide advice on the design of buildings as well as other design considerations, such as hard and soft landscaping and amenity spaces. By producing this guidance, the Council intends to ensure that future development proposals respect the local character and that local character is taken into consideration at the earliest stages of the development process, when planning applications are being prepared.
The four SPDs cover the main built-up areas of Mole Valley District: Ashtead, Bookham and Fetcham, Dorking and Leatherhead.
Where to view paper copies of the Design Codes
Should you wish to view a paper copy of the documents you can do so at the following locations:
| Location | Days and Times |
| Mole Valley District Council Offices, Pippbrook, Dorking, RH4 1SJ | Monday to Friday: 9am to 2:30pm |
| Ashtead Library, Woodfield Lane, Ashtead, KT21 2BQ | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; and Saturday: 9:30am to 5pm |
| Beare Green Village Hall, Merebank, Beare Green, RH5 4RD | Monday and Wednesday: 9:30am to 12:30pm |
| Bookham Library, Townshott Close, Great Bookham, KT23 4DQ | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; and Saturday: 9:30am to 3pm |
| Dorking Library, St Martin’s Walk, Dorking, RH4 1UT | Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9:30am to 5:30pm; and Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am to 7pm; and Saturday: 9:30am to 5pm |
| Leatherhead Library, The Mansion, Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8DP | Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30m to 5pm |
In addition, the Planning Policy team will also be holding public drop-in sessions in the specific areas relevant to the Design Codes, to get your views, and to answer questions. These sessions will be held at the following locations, you do not need to book a place:
| Location | Dates and Times |
| Ashtead – The Dell Centre at St Giles & St George’s (Small Hall) (Park Lane) | Wednesday 28 May 4pm to 8pm |
| Bookham – The Old Barn Hall (Church Rd) | Wednesday 11 June 4pm to 8pm |
| Dorking – Pippbrook Offices (Committee Rooms 1&2) | Thursday 5 June 4pm to 8pm |
| Dorking – Pippbrook Offices (Committee Rooms 1&2) | Tuesday 17 June 4pm to 8pm |
| Fetcham – Reading Room (Cobham Rd) | Monday 2 June 4pm to 8pm |
| Leatherhead – Letherhead Institute (Kirby Library) | Monday 9 June 4pm to 8pm |
Representations:
Email (preferred): planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk
Post: Planning Policy, Mole Valley District Council, Pippbrook, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1SJ
Please provide your name and email address (email is preferred to postal addresses).
Please state clearly which section/paragraph(s) of which document you are commenting on.
Recent Consultations
Westcott Neighbourhood Plan
We received a proposal from a local organisation calling themselves the “Westcott Village Forum” to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for Westcott. However, before the Neighbourhood Plan can progress, both the Forum and a Neighbourhood Area need to be designated. The Forum, if designated, would oversee and consult the local community on the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan. The Neighbourhood Area is the area which the Neighbourhood Plan would be applied to.
We consulted on designating the Forum and Neighbourhood Area for a period of six weeks between 1 April and 16 May 2025. The consultation has now ended but the consultation documents submitted by the Forum are still accessible to view.
The Neighbourhood Plan has to be based on our strategic planning polices however its detailed policies and proposals can reflect the specific issues facing the community.
Draft Supplementary Planning Documents
We consulted on three draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) for seven weeks between Monday 13 January to Friday 28 February 2025. They were:
- Draft Affordable Housing SPD, which provides details on the Council’s requirements for affordable housing delivery, vacant building credit, build to rent schemes, rural exception sites, specialist housing and viability assessments.
- Draft Planning Obligations SPD, which provides information on Section 106 agreements generally and planning obligations for carbon offsetting, biodiversity, open space, play space, public realm and heritage assets, community safety, sports facilities, ait quality, healthcare and natural flood management. It also provides locally specific information for planning obligations set by Surrey County Council.
- Draft Design Guidance for House Extensions SPD, which deals with issues such as whether planning permission is required, neighbourliness and character guidance for all the major types of house extensions.
The consultation has now ended. We are reviewing the responses received and will publish an update in due course.
Validation Checklist
A consultation on a new Validation Checklist took place between 30 September and 11 November 2024. The consultation has now ended. The Council will adopt new local validation requirements from Summer 2025, to be published on the Submitting a Planning Application webpage.
Consultation arrangements
Any responses received to the consultations will be held electronically for the purposes of meeting the Council’s duties arising from reporting consultations. Consultation responses will be made public but your personal data, other than your name or the name of the person you are acting for, will not be made public. Consultation responses will be kept for two years post adoption of the documents. Please see our Privacy and Cookies Policy and Privacy Notice for Planning Policy Statutory Documents for more information.