The final Draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD), which identifies potential urban and Green Belt sites for future housing, employment and infrastructure within Woking Borough to ensure it meets its future development requirements, had been agreed by Council at a meeting on Thursday 18 October 2018.

The Site Allocations DPD is an important document which Woking Borough Council is committed to prepare to enable the delivery of its Core Strategy. The Woking Core Strategy, which was adopted in October 2012, makes provision for the delivery of:

• 4,964 additional dwellings
• 93,900 sq. m of additional retail floor space
• 28,000 sq. m of additional office floor space
• 20,000 sq. m of additional warehouse floor space.

The Woking Core Strategy does not allocate specific sites for these proposals. It commits the Council to do so through the preparation of a Site Allocations DPD.

The document identifies 44 urban sites that are prioritised for development between its adoption and 2027. It also identifies four sites within the Green Belt for release between 2022 and 2027, and another three Green Belt sites to be safeguarded for future development between 2027 and 2040. Land has also been identified for infrastructure including Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGs).

Cllr Ashley Bowes, Woking Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy, said: "Following almost three years of political debate and public consultation, we are now at the final stage of our Site Allocations Development Plan.

"During this process we have listened to resident concerns and, where justified, we have adapted our proposals. It is now for local residents and key stakeholders to review our proposals and have their final say before our Site Allocations DPD is submitted to the Secretary of State for public examination."

During summer 2015, the Council conducted an initial consultation on its proposals, which attracted over 32,000 individual representations. A further consultation was undertaken in January 2017 on the suitability of safeguarding land east of Martyrs Lane to meet long-term development needs.

During the six week consultation period, the Council's Planning Policy Team will be hosting two public events where officers will be available to answer questions.

• Wednesday 21 November, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, H.G. Wells Conference and Events Centre, Woking
• Monday 26 November, 1pm to 4.45pm, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking

The Draft Site Allocations DPD and its supporting Sustainability Appraisal Report, Habitats

Regulations Assessment and Proposals Map will also be available to view at the following venues.

• Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, GU21 6YL, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.45pm.
• Woking, Byfleet, West Byfleet and Knaphill libraries. Please visit www.surreycc.gov.uk for addresses and opening times of the libraries.
• By visiting www.woking2027.info/allocations

All responses must be submitted before the consultation closes at 5pm, Monday 17 December 2018.

Once the consultation process is complete, all responses received will be considered before it is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by an independent inspector who will assess whether the DPD is 'sound' before it is adopted by Council.

For more information about the Draft Site Allocations DPD and other planning policies, please visit www.woking2027.info/allocations