After many years in preparation, the Spelthorne Local Plan has reached a significant milestone. On 4 March 2026, Spelthorne Borough Council received the independent Planning Inspector’s Report on the Examination of the Local Plan, which concludes that the Plan is sound, subject to a number of Main Modifications.
This is an important step forward. A “sound” Local Plan provides the legal and policy framework that guides how planning decisions are made across the borough, including where new homes can be built, how green spaces are protected, and how infrastructure such as schools, roads and flood mitigation is planned.
What does “sound, subject to modifications” mean?
The Inspector, Jameson Bridgwater, has confirmed that the Plan can be adopted provided the Council incorporates a defined set of Main Modifications. These changes are intended to strengthen the Plan, address legal and technical matters, and ensure it complies with national planning policy.
- Housing Requirement and Delivery
- Updated housing numbers and trajectory to demonstrate that Spelthorne can realistically meet its identified housing need over the plan period, with clearer assumptions about delivery rates and timing.
- Revised five‑year housing land supply position, including strengthened monitoring arrangements to ensure delivery remains on track.
- Site Allocations (including Green Belt)
- Removal or amendment of specific housing site allocations where deliverability could not be demonstrated.
- Clearer justification for Green Belt releases, ensuring they meet national policy tests and are limited to what is strictly necessary.
- Flood Risk and Climate Change
- Strengthened policies on flood risk management, reflecting Spelthorne’s particular vulnerability and ensuring development is directed away from areas of highest risk where possible.
- Enhanced requirements for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and climate resilience measures within new developments.
- Infrastructure and Deliverability
- Clearer links between new development and supporting infrastructure, including transport, schools, healthcare and utilities.
- Stronger wording to ensure that development is phased alongside infrastructure provision, rather than infrastructure lagging behind housing growth.
- Policy Clarity and Consistency
- Amendments to improve clarity, internal consistency and effectiveness of several policies, ensuring they can be applied robustly when determining planning applications.
- Alignment of policies with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), particularly on sustainable development, design quality and environmental protection.
- Monitoring and Review
- Enhanced monitoring framework, setting out how the Council will track housing delivery, infrastructure provision and policy effectiveness.
- Clear triggers for reviewing the Plan if delivery falls behind expectations.
What happens next?
The Local Plan will now be considered at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Environment & Sustainability Committee, followed by an Extraordinary Full Council meeting, where councillors will decide whether to formally adopt the Plan with the required modifications. If adopted, it will replace the outdated 2009 planning framework and become the primary basis for determining planning applications across Spelthorne.
What does this mean for Lower Sunbury?
For Lower Sunbury residents, adoption of the Local Plan will bring greater clarity and certainty. Decisions on development will be made against up‑to‑date policies covering flood risk, Green Belt protection, design quality and infrastructure provision. Importantly, once the Plan is adopted, speculative development proposals that do not align with its policies should carry less weight.
Your Residents' Association will continue to monitor progress closely and keep members informed as the Plan moves toward final adoption.
