Issue - meetings

The Localism Act 2011 introduced a right for communities to draw up neighbourhood development plans. Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Forum, with support and advice from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has produced a neighbourhood plan.

The neighbourhood plan has been subject to community and stakeholder engagement and was subject to an Independent Examination during September and October 2025, which concluded with a recommendation by this committee that Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to Referendum.

A Referendum was held on 12 February 2026 with a positive outcome, with the following results based on a turnout of 20.7%:

• Yes: 93.4%

• No: 6.6%

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Agree that the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Plan be formally made (adopted) as part of the statutory Development Plan.

(2)      Authorise the publication of the Decision Statement (Appendix 1 of this report).

The Localism Act 2011 introduced a right for communities to draw up neighbourhood development plans. Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Forum, with support and advice from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has produced a neighbourhood plan.

The neighbourhood plan has been subject to community and stakeholder engagement and was subject to an Independent Examination during September and October 2025, which concluded with a recommendation by this committee that Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to Referendum.

A Referendum was held on 12 February 2026 with a positive outcome, with the following results based on a turnout of 20.7%:

·         Yes: 93.4%

·         No: 6.6%

The following matters were considered:

a)            Legal Status of the Neighbourhood Plan.  A Member queried the report that stated the Neighbourhood Plan had equal status to the Local Plan. The Principal Planning Policy Officer explained the hierarchical approach where the top level would be the national planning policy, which the local plan had to conform with and equally, the neighbourhood plan had to be in general conformity with the borough's local plan. The terminology used in the report wasn’t quite correct. The Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development went on to explain that it was complex, but the neighbourhood plan would have equal weight in decision making, but only in the areas where it applied. Therefore, the neighbourhood plan only applied to the designated neighbourhood forum area. The key thing to note was where there was a conflict between the plans, the most recently adopted plan takes precedence. Therefore, they have equal weight but depending on when they were adopted.

b)            Thanks. The Committee recognised the work that had gone into the plan by the resident’s association at Stoneleigh and Auriol. It had been a long haul for them and handled by themselves with no outside resources.  A very good job had been done, and they were applauded for their resolute enthusiasm.

c)            Stoneleigh Broadway Height. A Member questioned plans respecting building heights and asked if the neighbourhood plan would preclude an urban renewal on Stoneleigh Broadway. He was also concerned about potential impact a height policy might have on any other potential developments. The Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development undertook to provide a response after the meeting.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Agree that the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Plan be formally made (adopted) as part of the statutory Development Plan.

(2)      Authorise the publication of the Decision Statement (Appendix 1 of this report).