Supplementary Planning documents and other guidance

Adoption of the Updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended), notice is hereby given that Runnymede Borough Council adopted the Updated Affordable Housing SPD on 17 December 2025, with an implementation date of 7 January 2026. The SPD is, from the date of implementation, a material consideration in the determination of planning applications for new development.

The Updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) provides updated guidance for securing off site affordable housing financial contributions in exceptional circumstances, such as when it is not feasible to deliver them on-site as a registered provider can’t be found for the site. This can be found in Appendix 3 to the SPD. It also contains a number of updates to the text which largely resulted from the introduction of the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework and, in particular, the changes that this introduced with regards to the delivery of First Homes.

The SPD was approved for adoption by the Planning Committee on 17 December 2025, with an implementation date of 7 January 2026. A copy of the adopted SPD and other supporting documentation can be viewed below:

• Updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (PDF 859 KB)
• Final Regulation 12 Consultation Statement (PDF 247KB)
• Adoption Statement for the Updated Affordable Housing SPD (PDF 51 KB)
• SEA/HRA Screening March 2022 (PDF 707KB)
• EQIA Screening Report (PDF 100KB)
• AHFCs Methodology Review - DSP Draft Report Jan 25 (PDF 1.33 MB)
• Appendix 1 (PDF 24 KB)
• Appendix 2 (PDF 25 KB)
• Appendix 3 (PDF 24 KB)
• Appendix 4 (PDF 25 KB)
• AHFCs Study - Stage 2 Final Recommendations (PDF 617 KB)

Hard copies of the SPD and Adoption Statement are also available to view at local libraries within the Borough and at the Civic Centre during normal office hours.

Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document - Adopted April 2022

It is paramount that local people in Runnymede have the opportunity to live in decent and affordable homes.  Securing homes for all is key to ensuring that people have decent life chances and it also helps to build strong communities and boost the economy.

The Council is committed to increasing the delivery of affordable housing, as set out in the Runnymede Housing Strategy Statement 2021-2026 (February 2021). The Council’s aspiration, as set out in the Housing Strategy Statement, is “for sufficient and affordable, good quality housing that is accessible and suitable for local people in Runnymede. We are responding to the changing demographic and economic needs of our communities to deliver housing that promotes health, wellbeing and financial stability.” 

This SPD sets out the Council’s approach to securing planning obligations in respect of affordable housing from new development across the Borough. It also aims to provide clarity and guidance on implementing the Runnymede 2030 Local Plan affordable housing policy (Policy SL20) by setting out when, how and what affordable housing the Council expects in new developments. The Affordable Housing SPD was adopted on 13 April 2022, with implementation from 20 April 2022. Its contents are a material consideration in decision making in the Borough.

A copy of the adopted SPD, Adoption Statement, Regulation 12 Consultation Statement as well as the screening determinations for Strategic Environmental Assessment/Habitats Regulations Assessment and updated Equalities Impact can be viewed below

• Affordable Housing SPD March 2022 (PDF 1.1 MB)
• Adoption Statement (PDF 64 KB)
• Regulation 12 Consultation Statement (PDF 313 KB)
• SEA/HRA Screening March 2022 9PDF 707 KB)
• EqIA Screening March 2022 (PDF 84 KB)

The Council’s list of the Council’s preferred affordable housing providers can be viewed in the document below:

•  The Council's Registered Provider Development Partners (PDF 50 KB)