Supplementary Planning documents and other guidance

First homes interim policy statement

This Interim Policy Statement was produced by Runnymede BC following the introduction of First Homes in May/June 2021, and having considered the implications of this new tenure of affordable home ownership becoming a mandatory requirement for all ‘major’ planning applications (with a limited number of exceptions as outlined in the Interim Policy Statement paragraph 7) in the Borough. 

However, on 12 December 2024, the new government published an updated version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The new NPPF no longer requires the mandatory provision of First Homes, and instead states that “The requirement to deliver a minimum of 25% of affordable housing as First Homes, as set out in 'Affordable Homes Update' Written Ministerial Statement dated 24 May 2021, no longer applies”. The footnote does however state that the “Delivery of First Homes can, however, continue where local planning authorities judge that they meet local need.” As a result, the Council is currently reviewing the contents of this Interim Policy Statement, and it is expected that the reviewed text will be included within an updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in the near future instead.

In the meantime, first time buyers wishing to purchase a First Home in the Borough should contact the developers directly, as the Council does not manage these schemes. To find out more about the scheme, please have a look at the Government’s website.

• First Homes scheme: first-time buyer's guide

For the avoidance of doubt, purchasers applying within the first three months of effective marketing must always meet the Local Criteria and the National Criteria as noted in the IPS. First Homes Applicant(s) applying after the first three months of effective marketing, and where there is less than three months to go before expected practical completion, must meet the National Criteria only. (The period of effective marketing according to local criteria is normally three months. However, in keeping with the Section 106 agreement, the period of marketing according to local criteria cannot expire if there are more than three months to go until expected practical completion. This means that if marketing started more than six months in advance of practical completion, the period of marketing according to local criteria can be correspondingly longer than three months).

•  Interim policy statement - First Homes - January 2022

Revoked Guidance

The SPG document listed below have been revoked and are no longer capable of being a material consideration in the decision making process. The decision to revoke the SPGs was made by the Planning Committee on 22 March 2023 with revocation coming into force on the 29 March 2023. The committee agenda and minutes are available to view on the Council’s Committee Meetings webpage.

The decision to revoke was also accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment/Habitats Regulations Assessment (SEA/HRA) Screening Determination and Equalities Impact Assessment Screening which are also available to view below.

•  SEA/HRA Screening
•  EqlA Screening
•  Addlestone Town Centre Strategy Supplementary Planning Guidance
•  Residential Extensions and Replacement Dwellings in the Green Belt Supplementary Planning Guidance (2004)
•  Trees, Woodland and Hedgerows Supplementary Planning Guidance (2003)