Neighbourhood Planning

To see the latest news and information on the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan Examination, please click on the button below.

What is Neighbourhood Planning?

Neighbourhood planning is a process by which communities can come together and prepare plans that will guide the type of developments they wish to see in their local area.

Neighbourhood planning enables parish councils and neighbourhood forums (for non-parish areas) the opportunity to use tools such as Neighbourhood Plans and Neighbourhood Development Orders to enable development in their area, in consultation with local residents, businesses and other interested parties.

A Neighbourhood Plan should support the strategic development needs set out in the Local Plan and plan positively to support local development. Neighbourhood Plans are tools for sustainable development and cannot be used to prevent development in an area – they can only include proposals for an equal or greater amount of growth than set out in a Spatial Development Strategy, produced by the strategic planning authority (where there is one) or our Local Plan.

Certain procedures and requirements need to be followed in undertaking neighbourhood planning and we have a duty to provide technical and practical support to those that decide to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan or Development Order.

For more information, email planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk

Process of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan

There are three main stages:

1. Getting established

The first step is to designate the Neighbourhood Area and, where appropriate, set up a Neighbourhood Forum.

The Neighbourhood Area needs to be approved by us, and required to consult on the proposal for  four to six weeks, depending on the type of application.

2. Preparing the plan

This includes building an evidence base and conducting consultations with the local community and developing local partnerships.

This will inform the vision and/or aims of the plan which will then inform the formulation of policies.

3. Bringing the plan into force

The proposed Neighbourhood Plan will be submitted to us.

Providing the plan meets all the requirements the local planning authority will publicise the plan and arrange for an independent examination and public referendum.

For more information on the process of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan please see the Locality website.

Our made Neighbourhood Plans

Neighbourhood Plans have been made for the following neighbourhood areas:

• Ashtead (made May 2017)
• Bookham (made May 2017)
• Capel Parish (made December 2017)
• Westcott (made December 2017)

Our emerging Neighbourhood Plans

Charlwood

We received a proposal from Charlwood Parish Council to prepare an Neighbourhood Plan for the settlements of Charlwood and Hookwood.

The Neighbourhood Area was designated by the Council on the 24 September 2024, following a six week consultation between Tuesday 7 May 2024 and Wednesday 19 June 2024.

Charlwood Parish Council has set up a body to help oversee the preparation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan on its behalf – the Neighbourhood Plan Group.

Once adopted, the Charlwood Neighbourhood Development Plan will become part of the development plan and will be taken into account in the determination of planning applications for proposals in the area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan.

Ockley

We received a proposal on behalf of Ockley Parish Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan for Ockley.

The Neighbourhood Area was designated by the Council on the 22 March 2022, following a six week consultation between 12 January 2022 and 23 February 2022.

Ockley Parish Council has set up a body to help oversee the preparation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan on its behalf – the Ockley Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group.

Once adopted, the Ockley Neighbourhood Development Plan will become part of the development plan and will be taken into account in the determination of planning applications for proposals in the area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan.

Westcott

We received a proposal from a local organisation calling themselves the Westcott Village Forum to prepare a new Neighbourhood Plan for Westcott.

The Westcott Village Forum and Neighbourhood Area were designated by the Council on the 17 June 2025, following a six week consultation between 1 April and 16 May 2025.

The Westcott Village Forum held a Regulation 14 consultation on a draft Westcott Neighbourhood Plan with the local community in Autumn 2025. More information on this can be found on the Westcott Village Association website. We then held a Regulation 16 consultation on an amended draft Westcott Neighbourhood Plan between 8 December 2025 and 2 February 2026.

On 4 February 2026, the amended draft Westcott Neighbourhood Plan was submitted by the Council for independent examination. The latest information and updates on the examination can be found on the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan Examination webpage.

Once adopted, the new Neighbourhood Plan will replace the existing Westcott Neighbourhood Plan and become part of the development plan, to be taken into account in the determination of planning applications for proposals in the area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan.