Principle 1 - Supports economic growth, housing and infrastructure delivery

Surrey’s functional economic geographies

Surrey’s local authorities have a strong track record of collaborating to drive sustainable economic growth. In 2017, they produced a joint Interim Strategic Statement which outlined Surrey’s growth ambitions and spatial priorities, setting a clear vision of ‘well-functioning, well-connected places and healthy communities’.[1] The Interim Strategic Statement, along with Surrey’s subsequent 2050 Place Ambition, recognises that Surrey contains distinct functional economic areas.[2]  Those that fall entirely within the existing county and district boundaries are:

New unitary authority

Current districts and boroughs

East Surrey

Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge

North Surrey

Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne

West Surrey

Guildford, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking

The Blackwater Valley, which extends over northeast Hampshire, parts of Bracknell Forest and Wokingham, also covers areas of Surrey including Guildford, Surrey Heath and Waverley. The Blackwater Valley area straddles multiple administrative boundaries and is outside the scope of local government reorganisation in Surrey, though its significance is noteworthy for the West Surrey area.

The geography of our proposed three-unitary model aligns with the sub-areas contained in the interim Local Strategic Statement (LSS) for Surrey (2016-2031). The spatial geography for this unitary configuration is therefore well-established and well-evidenced.

A description of each functional economic geography is provided below.

[1] ‘Interim Local Strategic Statement for Surrey 2016-2031’, jointly produced by Surrey County Council and Surrey’s eleven districts and borough councils.

[2] ‘Surrey 2050 Place Ambition version 2 – 2023’, similarly jointly produced.