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2. The Route to 2037
Spelthorne in 2022
2.1 Located in Surrey, approximately 16 miles from central London, Spelthorne benefits from good transport links to both London and the southeast via both the road and rail network. In addition, the proximity of Heathrow Airport and easy access to Gatwick via the motorway network further serves to make the Borough accessible and attractive to both individuals and businesses. Covering an area of approximately
19.75 sq miles, Spelthorne has a population of 99,900 and is home to over 7,500 businesses including Pinewood (Shepperton Studios), dnata and Woodgroup ltd. Kempton Park is a key visitor attraction.
2.2 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, while the land outside the urban area covers about 65% of the Borough and is designated as Green Belt.
2.3 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.
Maps 1: Key Diagram
Figure 2: Spelthorne at a Glance
Our Destination and Objectives
2.4 The
Spelthorne Corporate Plan (2021-23) sets out our five overarching ‘CARES’ priorities and 15 more specific themes to focus on. By 2037 our
Local Plan seeks to have achieved the priorities set out within it.
Strong communities
2.5 We are working with our partners and the community to deliver high quality place making that incorporates amenities and services for all in Spelthorne.
2.6 The Local Plan is supporting this by:
- Engaging with individuals, residents’ associations and other community groups so that they are better informed and have opportunity to participate in the Local Plan and Staines Development Framework preparation
- Seeking the views of the local businesses community to support the vitality and resilience of our towns and economic areas, such as the Staines Business Improvement District.
Safe communities
2.7 We have safe places to live, visit and do business, with safe streets and open spaces.
2.8 We are supporting this by:
- Working with Surrey County Council to make our roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, with new cycle lanes/walkways and reduced speed limits where needed.
- Working with our partners and developers to ensure that high quality design, which supports natural surveillance and creates safe and welcoming streets and spaces is at the heart of placemaking in the Borough.
- Engaging with Surrey Police to identify additional needs from the new development that could be met through developer contributions.
Healthy communities
2.9 Our communities are staying healthy for longer.
2.10 We are supporting this by:
- Working with our healthcare, voluntary and community partners to identify need for additional facilities that could be funded through developer contributions.
- Implementing policies which seek to improve residents’ health and wellbeing,
promote active and healthy lifestyles and tackle health inequalities.
- Supporting a range of leisure facilities to enable people to stay fit and healthy, including parks, our Green and Blue Infrastructure network, community gym equipment and leisure centres.
Enhancing local and strategic infrastructure
2.11 We are supporting this by:
- We are supporting the provision of the right infrastructure to meet our
communities’ changing needs and the demands of a growing population.
- Working with partners we are identifying the necessary health, educational, leisure and cultural infrastructure to meet our needs, assisted by developer contributions.
Delivering new homes
2.12 We are supporting this by:
- Allocating sites to meet our identified housing need.
- Implementing policies which provide a mix of homes for all members of our community.
- Working with colleagues and partners to promote the delivery of affordable homes that meets the needs of all our communities.
Supporting economic recovery
2.13 We analyse the needs for employment floorspace and implement and deliver policies which:
- Protect businesses premises.
- Assist future business growth and adaptation.
- Support placemaking, regeneration and development of infrastructure.
- Attract visitors to the Borough.
Tackling climate change
2.14 We recognise the effects that climate change could have on our Borough. Having declared a climate emergency, we recognise the need to work with residents and businesses to achieve cleaner and greener lifestyles.
2.15 We are supporting this by:
- Ensuring Local Plan policies are in conformity with the Climate Change Strategy to require new development to incorporate measures to lower the Borough’s carbon emissions.
- Working with the Environment Agency and through the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, ensure that new development is directed to areas of lowest flood risk. Incorporating the River Thames (Flood Relief) Scheme and other flood mitigation initiatives withing the Plan.
- Conserving and enhancing our urban open spaces and Green and Blue infrastructure network, which plays a key role in the sustainable management of surface water run-off and holding floodwaters.
- Ensuring preservation of the Borough’s valued historic environment.
- Enhancing and extending the Borough’s Green and Blue Infrastructure network at all scales to deliver multiple benefits for people, wildlife and the environment.
- Mitigating the impact of the loss of Green Belt through the innovative use of Green and Blue infrastructure solutions to create high-quality space for people
and wildlife, while supporting the sensitive integration of new development into the wider landscape and Green Belt.
Delivering sustainable development
2.16 We have progressed towards more sustainable communities – which manage their social, environmental, and financial resources to meet current needs, while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations.
2.17 We are supporting this by:
- Implementing Local Plan policies to safeguard the environment against air, noise, light and water pollution and remediating land contamination.
- Local Plan policies and allocations which support the requirement for biodiversity net gain, through partnership working and the use of Nature Recovery Strategies.
- Implementing Local Plan policies to encouraging waste prevention and promote recycling.
- Implementing Local Plan policies to promoting sustainable travel, including actively supporting improvements to public transport access to Heathrow.
- Promoting residential development that is sustainably located with access to existing services and transport hubs.
- Promoting energy efficiency for new buildings and refurbishments.
Effective Service Delivery
2.18 We are supporting this by:
- Ensuring Local Plan objectives cascade from Corporate Strategy and its priorities.
- Working with partners including Surrey CC, Surrey Police, NHS to ensure the provision of services to support our Borough’s growing population.
- Identifying needs and communicating and collaborating with partners about the Borough’s planned growth.
- Ensuring the Local Plan and its requirements on developers are viable and capable of delivery.
- Implementing and monitoring Local Plan policies and enforcing against those who do not comply with the requirements.
- Regularly reviewing and updating the Local Plan.
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