Planning obligations

Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGs) is the name given to the green space that is of a quality and type suitable to be used as mitigation in the context of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBHSPA).

Its role is to provide alternative open space to divert visitors from visiting TBHSPA.  SANGs are intended to provide mitigation for the potential impact of residential development on the SPA by preventing an increase in visitor pressure on the SPA. The effectiveness of SANGs as mitigation will depend upon the location and design. These must be such that the SANGS is more attractive than the SPA to users of the kind that currently visit the SPA. The location of the Borough’s SANG can be found on the Council’s mapping service

• Runnymede Maps

Each SANG managed by the Borough Council has its own management plan, the details of which can be found below:

•  Chaworth Copse and Timber Hill
•  Ether Hill and Queenswood
•  Hare Hill
•  Homewood Park
•  Ottershaw Chase
•  St Ann's Hill
•  Chertsey Meads

SANG Capacity

Each of the Borough’s SANG have a finite capacity in terms of the number of occupants from a development they can mitigate. The Runnymede Thames Basin Heaths SPD sets out standard occupancy ratios for size of dwellings and the Council has provided a calculator to convert dwellings to occupants on the Local Requirements page.

The Thames Basin Heaths SPD sets out how the Council assigns SANG capacity to development. Development proposing 9 or less net dwellings can be assigned to any of the Council managed SANG in the Borough, whilst developments proposing 10 or more net dwellings must be assigned to a specific SANG so long as that development falls within a SANGs catchment area. SANG catchment areas are available to view on the Council’s mapping service

• Runnymede rMaps

The remaining capacity at each of the Council managed SANG as at 1 April 2024 is as follows:

Please note that SANG capacity will change over time and although the Council will regularly update remaining capacity for each SANG on this webpage, applicants are advised to check capacity with the Borough Council before submitting an application.

SANGS visitor surveys

Strategic Access Management and Monitoring funds enable the coordinated visitor management across the whole of the publicly accessible TBHSPA.  The funds are used in part to survey the Thames Basin Heaths' Authorities SANGs on a rolling basis, which were last undertaken in Runnymede late 2016/early 2017 at St Ann's Hill and Homewood Park.  The purpose is to identify any improvements to the SANG and the information is passed to the Council's Geen Spaces team.

The Thames Basin Heaths Partnership Project is a partnership between 26 organisations and its aims are to lessen potential impacts from increased local housing development.  The project is funded by contributions from all new residential dwellings within 5km of the SPA.  More information can be found on the partnership's dedicated website

• Thames Basin Heaths Partnership Project website

Natural England SANG Quality Advice

Natural England have published guidelines for the creation of SANG to ensure they meet a set of minimum standards. The Natural England guidelines were first published in 2008 and updated in 2021. The updated guidelines can be viewed below.

•  Natural England Guidelines for the Creation of SANG