Neighbourhood planning

Virginia Water Neighbourhood Plan

The Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum submitted its proposed Neighbourhood Plan (‘the Plan’) to Runnymede Borough Council under Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) on 4 August 2025. The Plan sets out objectives for the future and contains planning policies to guide the development in the Virginia Water Neighbourhood Area.

In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the Council invited comments from organisations and individuals on the Plan and supporting documents for a period of six weeks. The consultation period ran from Monday 1 September – 11.59pm Tuesday 14 October 2025 and is now closed.

In partnership with the Neighbourhood Forum, the Council appointed Mr Derek Stebbing to undertake the examination of the Plan, which is started on 20 October 2025. All comments received during the consultation were sent to the Examiner, who considered whether the Plan met a set of prescribed ‘basic conditions’ and other legal requirements.  

The examiner issued the Council with his report into the Virginia Water Neighbourhood Plan on 12 February 2026. Officers of the Council reviewed this and have subsequently determined (in accordance with Regulation 18 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 that the Plan meets the ‘basic conditions’ and thus can proceed to a referendum.

Referendum on the Virgina Water Neighbourhood Plan

On 18 March 2026 the Council received the modified version (the ‘referendum version’) of the Neighbourhood Plan from the Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum. Alongside the Plan itself, you can view the examiner’s report, the Council’s decision statement and a summary of the consultation responses received on the draft Neighbourhood Plan: 

View the referendum version documents for the draft Neighbourhood Plan:

A number of additional documents support the Neighbourhood Plan, and these are available to examine on the Virgina Water Neighbourhood Plan website.

Supporting documents include:

Responses

The examiner has determined that the Neighbourhood Plan meets the ‘Basic Conditions’ and other legislative requirements set out in the Localism Act. Further information on the 'Basic Conditions' is available in the Guide to Basic Conditions which can be found in the National Planning Practice Guidance.

Examination correspondence

Below is the series of correspondence between the Examiner, Council and Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum. This will be updated regularly throughout the examination process.

Protection of personal data

All representations submitted to the Council will be processed and held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. Further information is available on the Council’s website at: Information and data

Publicity for determinations made under Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations

The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 require the Council to publicise any determination made under Regulation 9(1) of the Regulations. The Council has determined after consultation with the statutory consultees that the draft Virginia Water Neighbourhood Plan is not likely to have significant environmental effects and, therefore, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is not required. A copy of the SEA/HRA Screening Report which accompanies the neighbourhood plan consultations materials – which includes the screening determination and statement of reasons - is available to download using the links above - and can be viewed in hard copy alongside the consultation materials at the same locations identified above.

A Screening Determination Notice setting out full details is available to download below:

For further information or assistance, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01932 425 239 or email planningpolicy@runnymede.gov.uk

Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum

On 27 March 2019 members of Runnymede Borough Council Planning Committee resolved to designate The Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum and designate a modified Neighbourhood Area. The designation of a Forum lasts for five years, and thus the first five-year period ended on 26 March 2024. After this date the Council received an application to re-designate the Forum, with no changes proposed to the Neighbourhood Area. The application to re-designate the Forum (including the Forum’s updated constitution) can be viewed below: The details of the Forum and the Area are as follows:

The Council consulted on the re-designation of the Forum between 29 May and 10 July 2024. During this period five responses were received. These responses were considered under delegated powers, and a decision was taken to re-designate the Forum for a further five years on 5 August 2024. The decision notice in relation to this can be found below:

Name of the Neighbourhood Forum: Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum

Name of the Neighbourhood Area to which the Forum relates: Virginia Water Neighbourhood Area

Contact details: Mr Andrew Tyley, info@virginiawaterplan.org

What has happened so far in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan?

For further details about the draft Virgina Water Neighbourhood Plan visit the Virginia Water Neighbourhood Forum Website

Get in touch about planning policy

The quickest way to contact us is by using our online forms which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need to speak to us give us a call during office hours and talk to our Customer Services team who will be happy to help.

Planning and building control related pages