Call for sites and local green spaces

What is a Local Green Space?

A Local Green Space (LGS) offers a high degree of protection (similar to that given to Green Belt) to areas of importance to the local community against certain forms of new development, providing that they meet certain criteria. As part of the development of the Local Plan, the Council is welcoming new Local Green Spaces suggestions for areas that are special to local communities for potential designation in the new Local Plan.

A Local Green Space must be:

• in close proximity to the community it serves;
• demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife; and
• local in character and not an extensive tract of land.

To help demonstrate to the Council that a green space is ‘demonstrably special to the community it serves’, you will need to provide evidence that a space has at least some of the following special features:

• beauty;
• historic significance;
• recreational value (including as a playing field);
• tranquillity;
• richness in wildlife.

Assessing Potential Local Green Spaces

The method by which the Council assesses a green space against the above criteria is set out in the assessment form. If you wish to submit a green space for consideration, please complete the nomination form.

• Local green space nomination form (DOCX 61 KB)

Full details are set out in a first iteration of the draft Local Green Spaces Assessment:

• Draft LGS assessment (living document) (PDF 68 KB)
• Draft LGS assessment criteria reference sheet (PDF 4 MB)

If you do not want to use the above online form, you can email the Planning Policy Team, and we can send you a hard-copy version of the form to complete and return. 

The completed form and a map, with the boundaries of the space clearly outlined, should both be submitted as attachments in an email to planningpolicy@runnymede.gov.uk or posted to:

Planning Policy Team
Runnymede Borough Council
Civic Centre
Station Road
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 2AH

The above contact details can also be used to request hard copy nomination forms.

Please note that the Local Green Spaces nomination period runs between Monday 7 September 2026 and Monday 12 October 2026. If you have any questions about the Local Green Spaces designation, please contact the Planning Policy Team using the details above.