Woldingham is a special place. Situated 700 feet above sea level on top of the North Downs, Woldingham is in a recognised area of natural beauty and great landscape value. Surrounded by countryside, how many villages can still be 30 minutes from the centre of London? Indeed, we are still a village with all that a village has to offer except for a village pub! We are privileged to live here.

ENQUIRY FOR LAND

As publicised in village newsletters, magazines and the Residents’ Survey, Woldingham Parish Council is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan**.

A Steering Group has been set up to work on the Plan along with the Parish Council. We are calling upon owners of land within the parish boundaries for their expressions of interest in applying at some time to Tandridge District Council for development permission. The call for expressions of interest is a necessary step in the Plan process, to provide the opportunity for the wishes of landowners to be taken into account in the work of the Steering Group. In this context, the term 'development' applies to any use of land within the boundaries of the parish: e.g. sport and recreation, public utilities, business premises, cemeteries, housing, etc. This is an informal opportunity for landowners to propose sites for development within Woldingham Parish. This will enable the Parish Council and Steering Group to better understand the needs and wishes of the electors within the Parish area.

The site suggestions received by us will be used to guide and inform the preparation of any policies and any parts of the Neighbourhood Plan dealing with ‘Allocations of Land and Site Development’. There is no obligation on the Parish Council or its Steering Group to support any future application for development on land that has been brought forward. Also any site that was finally identified as having potential to deliver a neighbourhood plan policy would still require to be subjected to a formal site assessment.

If you wish that a site/sites be considered for development through our Neighbourhood Plan, we should like to hear from you. The site(s) need not be in your ownership (eg you might have a responsibility for managing them) but you should make it clear whether you have obtained the consent of the landowner to express an interest. Proposals can be made for a range of development uses for the same land.

**A Neighbourhood Plan is a mechanism under the provisions of the Localism Act 2012 for helping communities, including both local residents and businesses, to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. It can be used to develop a shared vision for the neighbourhood; propose where new homes, shops, offices and other developments should be built; identify and protect important local green spaces; and influence what new buildings should look like.

Frank Myers, Chairman, Woldingham Parish Council, August 201