Purpose

Agree to undertake the Guildford Local Plan Scoping Consultation

Decision

Decision:

1. Agree the new Guildford Local Plan Scoping Consultation document as set out in Appendix 1 and for the consultation to be undertaken for a period of six weeks starting in September 2026.; and
2. Delegate authority to the Joint Director of Planning, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Planning, to make such minor alterations to the new Guildford Local Plan Scoping Consultation document to improve the clarity and/or accuracy as necessary.

Reason(s):

1. This recommendation enables the Council to undertake the scoping consultation under Regulation 20 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 which is required to be completed before it can formally commence preparation of the new Guildford Local Plan.
2. This recommendation enables minor changes to the document to improve clarity or accuracy in an efficient manner.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Option 2: Delaying the scoping consultation / pausing the plan preparation process (not recommended). This would lead to a delay in the preparation of the Guildford Local Plan because the stages of preparation must be carried out sequentially. Any lengthy delay will risk the Council not meeting the legal requirement for the Council to publish the Gateway 1 self-assessment by 30 April 2027 at the latest, as explained in paragraph 8.4 of this report. Any delay would mean that the Council would not meet the earlier deadline of 31 October 2026 required as part of the receipt of Local Plan Implementation Funding (see paragraph 8.6 of this report). Not having an up-to-date new local plan means that the Borough will remain vulnerable to speculative applications and appeals for development. An up-to-date local plan is the only way that the Council can provide a positive place-shaping role with a coherent approach to growth that is supported by the necessary infrastructure.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.