Maps 2: Borough of Spelthorne
13.1 Spelthorne is located where the continuous built-up area of London gives way to a more dispersed pattern of urban areas and villages. The urban area of the Borough occupies about 35% of the total area. The larger part of the urban area of the Spelthorne lies across the middle of the Borough from east to west. Stanwell, Ashford and Sunbury comprise a continuous urban area with no separation by open land and there is only a small gap between Staines and Ashford. The settlements of Stanwell Moor, Laleham, Shepperton, Upper Halliford and Charlton Village are separate urban areas albeit by only small distances. There is a clear belt of open land separating the urban areas of Spelthorne from outer London.
13.2 Land outside the urban area covers about 65% of the Borough and is designated as Green Belt. It is part of the Metropolitan Green Belt surrounding London and has an important strategic role in containing the outward spread of the capital and providing a belt of open land for air and exercise. Locally the Green Belt serves not only to contribute to the wider strategic function but also separates existing settlements within the Green Belt and maintaining their distinct physical identity and character. Within the Green Belt in Spelthorne are five major water supply reservoirs and a water treatment works at Ashford Common. Some areas of the Green Belt need some environmental improvement.
13.3 Spelthorne adjoins the River Thames and is crossed by two tributaries, the Ash and the Colne. The Borough is flat and low lying and consequently liable to flood. About 20% of the urban area is liable to flood in a 1 in 100 year flood event or surrounded by flood water and over 49% of the urban area would be flooded in a 1 in 1000 year event. Flood risk is a very serious threat with some 5,600 homes within the 1 in 100 flood risk area. The flood risk area affects the south and west edges of the Borough, including large parts of Staines and Shepperton and limits the scope for further development. The Environment Agency is currently developing proposals to reduce flood risk in Spelthorne and adjoining Boroughs.
13.4 Map 2 shows the area of Green Belt and flood plain in the Borough and the extent to which together they act as a constraint on development.
Maps 3: Green Belt and Flood Risk areas in Spelthorne
13.5 The whole of the Borough is designated as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) because of poor air quality. Traffic is the predominant source of air pollution in Spelthorne although traffic levels were reduced in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The primary pollutants are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulates (PM10) which result from traffic. There are elevated concentrations of NO2 pollution in parts of Staines, around the Sunbury Cross junction of the A316/M3 at Sunbury and along the strategic roads including the A308. Close to the airport in the north of the Borough there are elevated concentrations of NO2 due to freight traffic including HGVs.
13.6 Due to the Borough’s close proximity to the airport, it experiences air pollution and other environmental impacts. Pre pandemic, over 92% of Heathrow employees who live in the Borough reached the airport by car rather than public transport which highlights poor connectivity. Undoubtedly the Borough is also affected by activities related to the operation of the airport and its associated businesses, such as logistics and distribution, which impact on air quality, the environment and the efficiency of the local and strategic road network. The 2021 Air Quality Annual Status Report was published in October 2021 and reviews monitoring data for 2020 and over a 5 year period. It is available on the Council’s website64.
13.7 Heathrow Airport, the UK’s main and busiest airport lies immediately north of the Borough of Spelthorne. Currently, the proposed expansion plans which entailed major changes to the layout of the airport and the infrastructure surrounding it, faces uncertainty despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2020 that the proposed expansion can go ahead and would not be unlawful. A possible expansion at Heathrow has been delayed given the impacts of COVID-19, however, it is anticipated that permission through a DCO or smaller scale expansion plans based on a two-runway scenario will be pursued by Heathrow at such a point that post-pandemic aviation recovery makes proposals viable.
13.8 Heathrow Airport is an important contributor to the local economy as 7% of Spelthorne’s population works at the airport which is around 3525 people.65 There is also a concentration of airport supporting facilities (related developments and activities), including freight forwarding services to the north of the Borough. Therefore, a future expansion at Heathrow in whatever form it takes, is likely to have several potential impacts, both direct and indirect, on Spelthorne. This could include pollution and impacts on road capacity and traffic flows especially in the north of the Borough. Although the Council has generally scaled back its collaborative work on the Heathrow expansion, it’s involvement in other pieces of work, such as changes to flight paths, is still ongoing.
13.9 In the north of the Borough there are areas suffering high levels of noise from Heathrow Airport, in particular at Stanwell Moor and the northern part of Stanwell. Housing development in the most affected areas is restricted to one for one replacement only. The northern part of Stanwell Moor also has part of the public safety zone for the west end of the southern runway affecting it.
13.10 Spelthorne has about 43,100 dwellings66 and a relatively high level of owner occupation with only a 12.4% social housing stock. It has a higher proportion of semi-detached and terraced properties and flats than the rest of Surrey. The mix of dwellings results in a higher prevailing density of housing than found in the rest of Surrey and more akin to that found in adjoining London Boroughs.
13.11 House prices in Spelthorne are relatively high. There are in excess of 2,80267 people on the Spelthorne Housing Register 2021 and an on-going need for affordable housing.
13.12 Spelthorne’s population is slightly older and its average household size slightly smaller than the national average. It has a relatively small ethnic minority population (12.7%), of which the largest group is Indian 4.2%)68. Almost 30% of households in Spelthorne are single person households yet around 40%69 of the housing stock is three bedrooms or larger. Future extra care demand for Spelthorne has been calculated as 320 units by 2035 (2019 data)70.
13.13 A relatively high proportion of the population is “economically active” (either in work or seeking work). The total unemployment rates from February 2020, just before COVID-19 affected the country to January 2021 have jumped significantly as illustrated in table 1.
Table 1: Unemployment rates Feb 2020 -Jan 2021
|
Spelthorne |
Surrey |
Great Britain |
South East |
Feb-20 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
3.0 |
2.1 |
Jan-21 |
5.6 |
4.0 |
6.2 |
5.1 |
13.14 A further considerable number of the Spelthorne population have businesses or are employed by the supply chain that serves Heathrow. As per Appendix 3: Update Report to Audit Committee on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Spelthorne Economy, the number of unemployed in Spelthorne has increased by 328%, see table 271 for worst impacted wards.
Table 2: Ward unemployment rates Feb 2020 -Jan 2021
|
Spelthorne |
Stanwell North |
Ashford North & Stanwell South |
Sunbury Common |
Staines |
Ashford Common |
Ashford Town |
Feb-20 |
1,050 |
155 |
125 |
130 |
95 |
70 |
70 |
Jan-21 |
3,450 |
430 |
370 |
370 |
350 |
270 |
270 |
13.15 The Spelthorne Retail Study 201872 shows there is scope for further significant growth in shopping provision in the period to 2035 in Staines, particularly in non-food retailing. Staines is seen as the best location in both market demand and in accessibility terms. There is physical scope for further major expansion adjoining the Elmsleigh Centre. Without growth Staines is likely to lose an increasing proportion of retail expenditure to centres outside the Borough.
13.16 The Retail Studies73 showed Ashford, Shepperton and Sunbury Cross were well-used by their local communities and the need to maintain their role. There is no scope for significant expansion but opportunities for improvement need to seek to maintain their role. Local parades provide convenient shopping facilities for local communities and are important.
13.17 There are some relatively small areas of deprivation based in parts of Stanwell, Staines, Ashford and Sunbury Common. This information comes from the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2016/201974 which uses a bundle of issues to create a score. For these small pockets of deprivation the main issues are low income, lack of or poor employment, poor education and skills and crime and disorder. Income, education and employment are inextricably linked.
13.18 Spelthorne contains areas of national and international significance for nature conservation. Most of its major reservoirs form part of the South West London Waterbodies Special Protection Area, in recognition of their international significance as a habitat for two particular birds. Additionally the Staines Commons form a substantial Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which means they are of national importance for nature conservation as well as an important historic landscape. There are also smaller SSSIs and other areas of local nature conservation importance in the Borough.
13.19 Spelthorne sits on river gravels, which are an important mineral resource. The open areas of the Borough contain a mixture of past workings most of which have been restored to varying standards including some schemes that have created new habitats and landscapes. Most mineral extraction sites are filled with inert material. Minerals and Waste disposal planning is the responsibility of the County Council and subject to a separate Local Development Framework.
13.20 Recreation is a significant land use in the Borough, including formal sporting sites such as Kempton Park racecourse, sailing on reservoirs and lakes, three golf courses and various parks and sports grounds as well as informal recreation including common land. The River Thames and its towpath define about 50% of the Borough boundary and attract people from a wider area as well as being an important environmental amenity.
13.21 Spelthorne Borough Council has declared a Climate Emergency for the Borough. We have committed to work with the local community and all other relevant partner agencies to support making the Borough carbon neutral as soon as practically possible. The Council will also need to work with the Local Government Association and leading environmental Non-Government Organisations to ensure we can learn from 'best practises' in mitigating the effects of climate change and to seek funding opportunities from various sources including central Government.
13.22 Earlier in the year Spelthorne Borough Council launched a dedicated member task group with the sole aim of tackling climate change as quickly as possible by developing a strategy and action plan. This Council intends to accelerate its efforts by introducing greener buildings, transportation, greener investments and increasing renewable energy. You can find more information at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/goinggreen.
The following sections describe different parts of the Borough.
13.23 Staines-upon-Thames is Spelthorne’s major shopping centre with a catchment area covering the whole Borough and adjoining areas to the west and south. It is also the main commercial centre in the Borough. It benefits from Two Rivers shopping centre and the Elmsleigh Centre in addition to the High Street. The main residential area of Staines are to the east and south of the town centre.
A distinctive feature of the area north and east of Staines is the extensive areas of Common Land, notably Staines Moor and Shortwood Common. These are of historic as well as amenity and nature conservation value.
13.24 Ashford lies in the centre of the Borough and forms its largest residential area. Its town centre is linear in character and is surrounded by adjoining residential areas. It primarily serves local needs. Ashford has a number of commercial areas some in close proximity to housing and accessed through residential areas; the largest is at Littleton Road/Ashford Road. Ashford Hospital provides a hospital services and is also a major employer. Ashford has a shortage of open space in some locations.
13.25 Stanwell runs north from Ashford to the boundary with Heathrow. While it has an historic village centre in the north of the Stanwell area it was mostly developed down to the A30 in the immediate post war years. In comparison with the rest of Spelthorne, parts of Stanwell suffer from relatively high levels of social deprivation. Heathrow has a substantial impact on the northern part of Stanwell due to noise disturbance and the impact of airport related development, although stretches of open land between parts of Stanwell and the airport help to maintain a separate identity for the community.
13.26 Stanwell Moor is a separate village to the west of Stanwell. It is surrounded by open land and maintains a distinct identity. It lies partly under the flight path from the airport’s southern runway and is severely affected by aircraft noise.
13.27 Sunbury lies at the eastern end of the Borough. It is split in two by the M3. Junction 1 of the motorway is at Sunbury Cross, which was developed in the 1970s to include several high rise commercial and residential buildings and a shopping centre adjacent to which a large Tesco superstore was added in the early 1990s. The Sunbury Common area north of the M3 includes the Borough’s largest industrial estate at Windmill Road and another significant commercial area at Hanworth Road, both of which contain a mixture of traditional and modern premises. It also contains a major BP office and research facility. Lower Sunbury is a large residential area to the south of the M3. Parts of Sunbury have relatively higher levels of deprivation compared to the rest of the Borough. There is a particular concentration of poorer air quality around the Sunbury Cross Junction at Sunbury
13.28 Shepperton is a distinct settlement in the southern part of the Borough. It is primarily residential with a significant local shopping centre and a business park. Its major commercial site is Shepperton Studios, which lies in the north western part of the built up area.
13.29 Other smaller communities include Charlton Village, Laleham and Upper and Lower Halliford.
Summary of issues
13.31 Many of the issues faced by the Borough are also common to authorities in the wider area such as high house prices, strong economy, traffic congestion, a strong desire to protect and enhance the environment and maintaining the role of town and local centres. There are also issues facing all authorities including matters relating to climate change.
13.32 There are however in addition particular issues facing Spelthorne. These are:
13.33 In addition to these major local issues there are other matters of local significance and include housing for a growing elderly population, growth in need for smaller dwellings, supporting initiatives to increase the skills of the work force, risks within the public safety zone, the environmental and visitor issues relating to the River Thames and balancing the demands for housing with other uses of land.
13.34 Some issues apply to the Borough as a whole such as affordable housing and others to particular areas e.g. flooding, air quality, focussing development on urban areas and the role of existing centres.
Spelthorne and adjoining authorities
Maps 4: Spelthorne and adjoining local authority areas
Monitoring Report 2021 which is available at: www.spelthorne.gov.uk/AMR
Key Challenges
Affordable housing: Housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers); and which complies with one or more of the following definitions:
a) Affordable housing for rent: Meets all of the following conditions: (a) the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Social Rent or Affordable Rent, or is at least 20% below local market rents (including service charges where applicable);
b) the landlord is a registered provider, except where it is included as part of a Build to Rent scheme (in which case the landlord need not be a registered provider); and
c) it includes provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision. For Build to Rent schemes affordable housing for rent is expected to be the normal form of affordable housing provision (and, in this context, is known as Affordable Private Rent).
b) Starter homes: is as specified in Sections 2 and 3 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and any secondary legislation made under these sections. The definition of a starter home should reflect the meaning set out in statute and any such secondary legislation at the time of plan-preparation or decision-making. Where secondary legislation has the effect of limiting a household’s eligibility to purchase a starter home to those with a particular maximum level of household income, those restrictions should be used.
c) Discounted market sales housing: is that sold at a discount of at least 20% below local market value. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and localhouse prices. Provisions should be in place to ensure housing remains at a discount for future eligible households.
d) Other affordable routes to home ownership: is housing provided for sale that provides a route to ownership for those who could not achieve home ownership through the market. It includes shared ownership, relevant equity loans, other low cost homes for sale (at a price equivalent to at least 20% below local market value) and rent to buy (which includes a period of intermediate rent). Where public grant funding is provided, there should be provisions for the homes to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for any receipts to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision, or refunded to Government or the relevant authority specified in the funding agreement.
Air quality management areas: Areas designated by local authorities because they are not likely to achieve national air quality objectives by the relevant deadlines.
Ancient or veteran tree: A tree which, because of its age, size and condition, is of exceptional biodiversity, cultural or heritage value. All ancient trees are veteran trees. Not all veteran trees are old enough to be ancient, but are old relative to other trees of the same species. Very few trees of any species reach the ancient life-stage.
Ancient woodland: An area that has been wooded continuously since at least 1600 AD. It includes ancient semi-natural woodland and plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS).
Archaeological interest: There will be archaeological interest in a heritage asset if it holds, or potentially holds, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point.
Article 4 direction: A direction made under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 which withdraws permitted development rights granted by that Order.
Brownfield land: See Previously developed land.
Brownfield land registers: Registers of previously developed land that local planning authorities consider to be appropriate for residential development, having regard to criteria in the Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Registers) Regulations 2017. Local planning authorities will be able to trigger a grant of permission in principle for residential development on suitable sites in their registers where they follow the required procedures.
Build to Rent: Purpose built housing that is typically 100% rented out. It can form part of a wider multi-tenure development comprising either flats or houses, but should be on the same site and/or contiguous with the main development. Schemes will usually offer longer tenancy agreements of three years or more, and will typically be professionally managed stock in single ownership and management control.
Climate change adaptation: Adjustments made to natural or human systems in response to the actual or anticipated impacts of climate change, to mitigate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
Climate change mitigation: Action to reduce the impact of human activity on the climate system, primarily through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Competent person (to prepare site investigation information): A person with a recognised relevant qualification, sufficient experience in dealing with the type(s) of pollution or land instability, and membership of a relevant professional organisation.
Conservation (for heritage policy): The process of maintaining and managing change to a heritage asset in a way that sustains and, where appropriate, enhances its significance.
Decentralised energy: Local renewable and local low carbon energy sources.
Deliverable: To be considered deliverable, sites for housing should be available now, offer a suitable location for development now, and be achievable with a realistic prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years. In particular:
Design code: A set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. The graphic and written components of the code should build upon a design vision, such as a masterplan or other design and development framework for a site or area.
Design guide: A document providing guidance on how development can be carried out in accordance with good design practice, often produced by a local authority.
Designated heritage asset: A World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area designated under the relevant legislation.
Developable: To be considered developable, sites should be in a suitable location for housing development with a reasonable prospect that they will be available and could be viably developed at the point envisaged.
Development plan: Is defined in section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and includes adopted local plans, neighbourhood plans that have been made and published spatial development strategies, together with any regional strategy policies that remain in force. Neighbourhood plans that have been approved at referendum are also part of the development plan, unless the local planning authority decides that the neighbourhood plan should not be made.
Edge of centre: For retail purposes, a location that is well connected to, and up to 300 metres from, the primary shopping area. For all other main town centre uses, a location within 300 metres of a town centre boundary. For office development, this includes locations outside the town centre but within 500 metres of a public transport interchange. In determining whether a site falls within the definition of edge of centre, account should be taken of local circumstances.
Environmental impact assessment: A procedure to be followed for certain types of
project to ensure that decisions are made in full knowledge of any likely significant effects on the environment.
Geodiversity: The range of rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and landforms.
Green infrastructure: A network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity.
Habitats site: Any site which would be included within the definition at regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 for the purpose of those regulations, including candidate Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Community Importance, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and any relevant Marine Sites.
Heritage asset: A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. It includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).
Historic environment: All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and landscaped and planted or managed flora.
Housing Delivery Test: Measures net homes delivered in a local authority area against the homes required, using national statistics and local authority data. The Secretary of State will publish the Housing Delivery Test results for each local authority in England every November.
International, national and locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity: All international sites (Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and Ramsar sites), national sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and locally designated sites including Local Wildlife Sites.
Local Development Order: An Order made by a local planning authority (under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) that grants planning permission for a specific development proposal or classes of development.
Local Enterprise Partnership: A body, designated by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, established for the purpose of creating or improving the conditions for economic growth in an area.
Local housing need: The number of homes identified as being needed through the application of the standard method set out in national planning guidance (or, in the context of preparing strategic policies only, this may be calculated using a justified alternative approach as provided for in paragraph 61 of this Framework).
Local Nature Partnership: A body, designated by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, established for the purpose of protecting and improving the natural environment in an area and the benefits derived from it.
Local planning authority: The public authority whose duty it is to carry out specific planning functions for a particular area. All references to local planning authority include the district council, London Borough council, county council, Broads Authority, National Park Authority, the Mayor of London and a development corporation, to the extent appropriate to their responsibilities.
Local plan: A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.
Main town centre uses: Retail development (including warehouse clubs and factory outlet centres); leisure, entertainment and more intensive sport and recreation uses (including cinemas, restaurants, drive-through restaurants, bars and pubs, nightclubs, casinos, health and fitness centres, indoor bowling centres and bingo halls); offices; and arts, culture and tourism development (including theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls, hotels and conference facilities).
Major development76: For housing, development where 10 or more homes will be provided, or the site has an area of 0.5 hectares or more. For non-residential development it means additional floorspace of 1,000m2 or more, or a site of 1 hectare or more, or as otherwise provided in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
National trails: Long distance routes for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Natural Flood Management: managing flood and coastal erosion risk by protecting, restoring and emulating the natural ‘regulating’ function of catchments, rivers, floodplains and coasts. Other than for the specific purposes of paragraphs 176 and 177 in this Framework.
Nature Recovery Network: An expanding, increasingly connected, network of wildlife-rich habitats supporting species recovery, alongside wider benefits such as carbon capture, water quality improvements, natural flood risk management and recreation. It includes the existing network of protected sites and other wildlife rich habitats as well as and landscape or catchment scale recovery areas where there is coordinated action for species and habitats.
Neighbourhood plan: A plan prepared by a parish council or neighbourhood forum for a designated neighbourhood area. In law this is described as a neighbourhood development plan in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Non-strategic policies: Policies contained in a neighbourhood plan, or those policies in a local plan that are not strategic policies.
Older people: People over or approaching retirement age, including the active, newly-retired through to the very frail elderly; and whose housing needs can encompass accessible, adaptable general needs housing through to the full range of retirement and specialised housing for those with support or care needs.
Open space: All open space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water (such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs) which offer important opportunities for sport and recreation and can act as a visual amenity.
Original building: A building as it existed on 1 July 1948 or, if constructed after 1 July 1948, as it was built originally.
People with disabilities: People have a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment, and that impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. These persons include, but are not limited to, people with ambulatory difficulties, blindness, learning difficulties, autism and mental health needs.
Planning condition: A condition imposed on a grant of planning permission (in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) or a condition included in a Local Development Order or Neighbourhood Development Order.
Planning obligation: A legal agreement entered into under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to mitigate the impacts of a development proposal.
Playing field: The whole of a site which encompasses at least one playing pitch as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
Previously developed land: Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. This excludes: land that is or was last occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill, where provision for restoration has been made through development management procedures; land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape.
Primary shopping area: Defined area where retail development is concentrated.
Priority habitats and species: Species and Habitats of Principal Importance included in the England Biodiversity List published by the Secretary of State under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
Ramsar sites: Wetlands of international importance, designated under the 1971 Ramsar Convention.
Renewable and low carbon energy: Includes energy for heating and cooling as well as generating electricity. Renewable energy covers those energy flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment -from the wind, the fall of water, the movement of the oceans, from the sun and also from biomass and deep geothermal heat. Low carbon technologies are those that can help reduce emissions (compared to conventional use of fossil fuels).
Self-build and custom-build housing: Housing built by an individual, a group of individuals, or persons working with or for them, to be occupied by that individual. Such housing can be either market or affordable housing. A legal definition, for the purpose of applying the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended), is contained in section 1(A1) and (A2) of that Act.
Significance (for heritage policy): The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. The interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting. For World Heritage Sites, the cultural value described within each site’s Statement of Outstanding Universal Value forms part of its significance.
Special Areas of Conservation: Areas defined by regulation 3 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 which have been given special protection as important conservation sites.
Special Protection Areas: Areas classified under regulation 15 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 which have been identified as being of international importance for the breeding, feeding, wintering or the migration of rare and vulnerable species of birds.
Site investigation information: Includes a risk assessment of land potentially affected by contamination, or ground stability and slope stability reports, as appropriate. All investigations of land potentially affected by contamination should be carried out in accordance with established procedures (such as BS10175 Investigation of Potentially Contaminated Sites -Code of Practice).
Site of Special Scientific Interest: Sites designated by Natural England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Spatial development strategy: A plan containing strategic policies prepared by a Mayor or a combined authority. It includes the London Plan (prepared under provisions in the Greater London Authority Act 1999) and plans prepared by combined authorities that have been given equivalent plan-making functions by an order made under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (as amended).
Strategic environmental assessment: A procedure (set out in the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004) which requires the formal environmental assessment of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Strategic policies: Policies and site allocations which address strategic priorities in line with the requirements of Section 19 (1B-E) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Supplementary planning documents: Documents which add further detail to the policies in the development plan. They can be used to provide further guidance for development on specific sites, or on particular issues, such as design. Supplementary planning documents are capable of being a material consideration in planning decisions but are not part of the development plan.
Sustainable transport modes: Any efficient, safe and accessible means of transport with overall low impact on the environment, including walking and cycling, ultra low and zero emission vehicles, car sharing and public transport.
Town centre: Area defined on the local authority’s policies map, including the primary shopping area and areas predominantly occupied by main town centre uses within or adjacent to the primary shopping area. References to town centres or centres apply to city centres, town centres, district centres and local centres but exclude small parades of shops of purely neighbourhood significance. Unless they are identified as centres in the development plan, existing out-of-centre developments, comprising or including main town centre uses, do not constitute town centres.
Transport assessment: A comprehensive and systematic process that sets out transport issues relating to a proposed development. It identifies measures required to improve accessibility and safety for all modes of travel, particularly for alternatives to the car such as walking, cycling and public transport, and measures that will be needed deal with the anticipated transport impacts of the development.
Transport statement: A simplified version of a transport assessment where it is agreed the transport issues arising from development proposals are limited and a full transport assessment is not required.
Travel plan: A long-term management strategy for an organisation or site that seeks to deliver sustainable transport objectives and is regularly reviewed.
Wildlife corridor: Areas of habitat connecting wildlife populations.
Windfall sites: Sites not specifically identified in the development plan.
New Policies |
Superseded Policies (Core Strategy 2009) |
|---|---|
Policy DS2: Responding to the climate emergency |
None |
Policy PS2: Designing places and spaces |
Policy EN1: Design of New Development Policy EN2: Replacement and Extension of |
Policy PS3: Heritage Conservation and Landscape |
Policy EN 5 Building of Architectural and Historic Interest |
Policy SP1: Staines-upon-Thames |
Policy TC1: Staines Town Centre |
Policy SP2: Ashford, Shepperton and Sunbury Cross |
Policy TC3: Development in Ashford, Shepperton and Sunbury Cross |
Policy SP3: Stanwell and Stanwell Moor |
None |
Policy SP4: Green Belt |
Policy EN2: Replacement and Extension of Dwellings in the Green Belt including Plotland Areas |
Policy SP5: Colne Valley Regional Park |
None |
Policy SP6: River Thames and its Tributaries |
Policy EN9: River Thames and its Tributaries |
Policy SP7: Heathrow Airport |
Policy EN11 (Development and Noise) |
Policy EC1: Meeting Employment Needs |
SP3: Economy and Employment Land Provision EM1: Employment Development Policy |
Policy EC2: Retail Needs |
Policy TC1: Staines Town Centre |
Policy EC3: Local Centres, Shopping Parades and Isolated Retail Units |
Policy TC4: Local Shopping Centres and Parades Policy CO1: Providing Community Facilities |
Policy EC4: Leisure and Culture |
None |
Policy E1: Green and Blue Infrastructure |
EN7 -Tree Protection |
Policy E2: Biodiversity |
EN7 -Tree Protection |
Policy E3: Managing Flood Risk |
Policy LO1: Flooding |
Policy E4: Environmental Protection |
Policy EN3 (Air Quality) |
Policy E5: Open Space and Recreation |
Policy CO3: Provision of Open Space for New Development |
Policy H1: Homes for All |
Policy HO1: Providing for New Housing Development |
Policy H2: Affordable Housing |
Policy HO3: Affordable Housing |
Policy H3: Gypsy, Traveller & Travelling Showpeople Pitches and Plots |
Policy HO6: Sites for Gypsies and Travellers Policy HO7: Sites for Travelling Showpeople |
Policy ID1: Infrastructure and delivery |
Policy CO1: Providing Community Facilities |
Policy ID2: Sustainable Transport for New Developments |
Policy CO2: Provision of Infrastructure for New Development |
64 https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/17839/Air-quality-reports
66 Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (2020) Live tables on dwelling stock (including vacants) -GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
67 https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/AMR
68 https://www.surreyi.gov.uk/2011-census/ethnicity/
69 https://www.surreyi.gov.uk/2011-census/household-composition/
74 https://www.surreyi.gov.uk/dataset/v81k7/index-of-multiple-deprivation-2019
75 https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/20185/Spelthorne-declares-climate-emergency7
76 Other than for the specific purposes of paragraphs 176 and 177 of the NPPF (2021)