Runnymede Local Plan Engagement Strategy

Consultation on the draft Runnymede Local Plan Engagement Strategy

Runnymede Borough Council has prepared a draft Local Plan Engagement Strategy for public consultation. The Engagement Strategy includes a demographic analysis of Runnymede’s population. This data, together with data collected from previous consultations, has been used to identify groups which have historically been under-represented in planning policy consultations, and seeks to identify means of engaging these groups in the Local Plan process.

Included in the draft strategy (see below) is a discussion of proposed consultation methods to be used at different stages of the Local Plan process.  These methods have been designed to maximise the response rate from all our stakeholders, but also to increase the proportional representation from the under-represented groups identified.

What is a Local Plan?

Have you heard of a Local Plan? It’s an important document which sets out what the Council thinks is acceptable for new buildings, developments and land use in the local area. It shapes how the borough will grow over time.

It influences where new homes and employment premises are built, where new infrastructure and services are directed and will set out if changes need to be made to green belt (and if so, where).

We need the help of our residents, businesses and other stakeholders to make policies which try and balance the needs of all our communities over the next Local Plan period which will span 15 years. Our borough is facing a big challenge. We need to build many more homes and provide jobs for local people, whilst also considering climate change and other critical issues such as transport and infrastructure provision and flood risk. We need to work out how to do this together.

Producing the Local Plan Engagement Strategy is our first step in making sure we get our approach to engagement right from the beginning of our journey to produce the next Local Plan.

Consultation on the draft Local Plan Engagement Strategy

The draft Local Plan Engagement Strategy is open for public consultation for a period of 6 weeks from Monday 20 October 2025 to Monday 1 December 2025. The draft strategy and accompanying documents can be viewed below:

The draft Engagement Strategy and supporting material is also available for inspection at the Civic Centre in Addlestone and at the following locations: -

  • Addlestone Library (if required outside of Civic Office hours), Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AF
  • Chertsey Library, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 3BE
  • Egham Library, High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9EA
  • New Haw Community Library, The Broadway, New Haw, Surrey KT15 3HA
  • Virginia Water Community Library, 6 Station Parade, Virginia Water GU25 4AB

Details of library opening times can be found on the Surrey County Council website.

How to make a representation

We would particularly ask respondents to think about the following questions in making their representation:

  • Is our strategy correct?
  • Are there any other means of communicating with the public that we have not identified?
  • Are there any other groups that you think are under-represented?
  • How can we encourage more groups/individuals to engage with our Local Plan consultations?

We would like you to send us your views electronically if possible. Ideally, we would like respondents to complete the following questionnaire:

Please complete questionaire

Representations can also be emailed to planningpolicy@runnymede.gov.uk

If you are unable to submit your comments electronically, please send your written comments to the Planning Policy team, Runnymede Borough Council, Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AH to arrive by the close of the consultation period.

Anyone can make a request to be notified of when the Local Plan Engagement Strategy is adopted in their representation.

Copies of comments received during the course of the consultation, or a summary of them, will be made available for the public to view on the Council's website. Comments therefore cannot be treated as confidential. Personal details will be redacted prior to publishing. Data will be processed and held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

If you need help with your representation, please contact Paul Wade in the Council’s Planning Policy Team on 01932 425251or email planningpolicy team.

Discussing the draft Strategy with the Council

During the course of this consultation, should you, or a community/faith/cultural/other group of which you are part of wish to arrange a meeting/telephone discussion with an officer from the Planning Policy Team to discuss the Council’s proposed approach to engagement during the preparation of the next Local Plan in more detail, please contact Paul Wade, Planning Policy Officer officers using the contact details provided above.

Next steps

Following consultation, Planning Policy officers will consider all comments raised and consider whether any final changes to the draft Strategy are necessary. Once this process is completed, the Planning Committee will be asked to consider adopting the Consultation Strategy in early 2026.