After years of protracted negotiations and political contention, we finally have an approved Local Plan. The below message has been published by the Spelthorne Strategic Planning Team.
"This email is to update you that the Spelthorne Local Plan 2024 – 2039/40 was adopted at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on Tuesday 17 March 2026.
The Local Plan now sets out the Borough’s long-term vision and statutory planning framework for the next 15 years, including site allocations to support new homes.
This follows the receipt of the Inspector’s Report on 4 March 2026, which found the Plan sound and legally compliant subject to a number of recommended “main modifications”.
At the same meeting, two Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) were also adopted: the Spelthorne Design Code and the Managing the Development of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
The Design Code, consulted on in summer 2025, provides clear, detailed guidance to secure high-quality design in future development. The HMO SPD, consulted on earlier this year, introduces principles to manage HMO developments and prevent “sandwiching” of homes between HMOs, supporting balanced communities and good quality HMOs.
More information on the Spelthorne Local Plan is available at https://
As you will have also received notification of yesterday, Spelthorne Borough Council is closing down its Inovem consultation platform and is moving to a new consultation platform called Commonplace, which is now being used by the Strategic Planning Team (Planning Policy, Infrastructure).
Due to GDPR regulations, we will be deleting all contact and personal information of those registered to receive notifications of strategic planning consultations from Spelthorne Borough Council via the existing Inovem consultation platform. Only the contact details of statutory consultees, such as the Environment Agency, will be kept on file, along with all representations made during Local Plan consultations. Please see our privacy policy here for more details.
If you wish to receive notifications and updates about future strategic planning consultations and projects, please register on the Shaping Spelthorne: Strategic Planning Engagement Hub at this link. To register, you need to enter your email address under ‘Email’ in the pink box at the start of the home page.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the time you have invested in engaging in the Local Plan process and other strategic planning consultations and we hope you will continue to do so through the new engagement hub."
