In line with Regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations (2012), on 23 October 2024, the Council completed its formal review of the Runnymede 2030 Local Plan within 5 years of the Plan’s adoption date of 16 July 2020.
The committee report which sets out the process followed in reviewing the Local Plan and the conclusions drawn can be viewed within the committee agenda for the 23 October 2024 Planning Committee (agenda item 6) at the link below:
At the 22 July Planning Committee, two items will be considered which relate to the update of the Runnymede Local Plan. These items are:
- Proposed approach to engagement during the preparation of the Local Plan, and engagement plan for Scoping Consultation.
- Runnymede New Local Plan - Scoping Consultation and Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report: Approval sought for public consultation
Latest news on the emerging Local Plan evidence base can be found in the table below:
20 July 2026
| Evidence base document | Status |
|---|---|
|
Annual Monitoring Report 2024/25 |
The Annual Monitoring Report for the year 2024/25 has now been published. |
|
Strategic partners for cross boundary cooperation document |
A Strategic Cross-Boundary Partners Scoping Statement has been finalised to take account of feedback from a targeted consultation. The Statement will be published on the Council’s website shortly, after consideration at Planning Committee on 22 July 2026. |
|
The Runnymede Open Spaces Study update |
Completed. Published June 2025 Review the 2030 Local Plan Review Evidence Documents. |
|
The Runnymede Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Facilities Strategy |
This has now been published and can be found on the Councils website. |
|
The Green Belt Review parts 1 and 2 and Grey Belt Assessment |
Government funding secured for a joint Green Belt/Grey Belt Assessment with Spelthorne & Elmbridge Borough Councils. Assessment has commenced and will report back as follows: Stage 1 Green Belt Review - Will set out a methodology for the review and appraise larger areas of Green Belt against Green Belt purposes and cover all Green Belt across the three Boroughs. Methodology is currently being prepared and Stage 1 review due to report in Summer 2026. Stage 2 Green Belt Review - Will appraise smaller sub-areas of Green Belt against Green Belt purposes and identify potential Grey Belt. Stage 2 is expected to report late Autumn 2026. |
|
2025 Strategic Land Availability Assessment |
Completed and published, including the Urban Area Capacity Study. A second version will be produced taking account of Green Belt Review and Grey Belt Assessment outcomes in due course (see timescales above for the Green Belt review work). An updated 5 year housing land supply published in September 2025. The SLAA and 5 year supply statement can be viewed at: 2030 Local Plan Review - Evidence Base documents with the latter showing that the Council currently has 2.89 years of land supply as of April 2025. |
|
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment update |
Ongoing. Final report expected to be published in Summer 2026. |
|
Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (incorporating Employment Land Review) |
This has now been published and can be found on the Councils website. |
|
Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment refresh |
Further work is currently being undertaken on the functional floodplain. This will delay the publication of the level 1 SFRA most likely until Autumn 2026. |
|
Runnymede Design Code |
An authority-wide Design Code will not be developed. The Council will reassess the design tools it needs once evidence underpinning the new Local Plan helps the Council understand the revised spatial strategy. |
|
Local Plan Engagement Strategy |
Local Plan Engagement Strategy consultation has concluded. The results of this consultation are currently being analysed. A report will be taken to Planning Committee Wednesday 22 July outlining the proposed changes to the overarching strategy. This committee agenda also includes details of we plan to engage with the public and other stakeholders as part of the Scoping consultation which is due to commence in September 2026. |
|
Runnymede Retail and Town Centres Study update |
Addendum completed. Published July 2025. Review the 2023 Local Plan Review Evidence Documents. |
|
Update to the Council’s Stage 2 Sustainable Places work |
Planned. Work will not commence until the Council has completed its site list for testing. This will not happen until the Grey Belt Review/Assessment is complete. Publication date is to be confirmed. |
|
Infrastructure baseline assessment refresh |
As part of gathering baseline information to inform the new Local Plan, the Council intends to create a ‘Runnymede Place Portrait’, which will include baseline information about the Borough’s infrastructure capacity. The Council will also refresh the infrastructure baseline assessment as part of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan update. Once publication dates for both are clearer, further information will be published on this page. |
|
Sustainability Appraisal [SA] incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment |
Underway. A SA incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment scoping report has been prepared. This will be taken before the Planning Committee on 22 July 2026. Further iterations of the SA including the appraisal of policy options and policy wording will take place as the Local Plan progresses. |
| Settlement Hierarchy | Work has begun on identifying a settlement hierarchy to underpin the next local plan. This piece of work is at early stage, but is anticipated to be completed by early autumn. |
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