Runnymede Draft Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Consultation on the Draft Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 

Runnymede Borough Council has prepared a draft Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for public consultation. The Energy SPD provides additional guidance and advice to ensure the energy-related planning policies of the Runnymede 2030 Local Plan are applied to the best of their effect in tackling the climate emergency, and in bringing about new development which mitigates and adapts to the impacts of climate change. 

The SPD provides guidance on several energy-related matters, including:

• best practice guidance on achieving minimum energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction standards in new homes and buildings and encouragement for developers to go beyond these minimum standards wherever possible;
• clarity about what information should be included within Energy Statements submitted with major development applications for different types of application to demonstrate that policy requirements have been comprehensively addressed;
• a questionnaire designed to help homeowners and small-medium sized builders consider the relevant sustainable design and energy matters in householder and minor development proposals; and 
• guidance on retrofitting existing homes and buildings with energy efficiency and renewable energy measures where planning permission is required. 

Consultation on the draft Energy SPD

The draft SPD is open for public consultation for a period of 8 weeks from Wednesday 5 June 2024 to Wednesday 31 July 2024 and is accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment/Habitats Regulations Assessment (SEA/HRA) screening assessment as well as an Equalities Impact Assessment screening report. 

A draft Statement of Consultation is also available, describing how the Council has engaged various stakeholders and the community in preparing the SPD thus far. This document also includes a Statement of Representations Procedure.   

The draft SPD and supporting documents are available to view below:

 Draft Energy SPD
 Regulation 12 Statement of Consultation and Representations Procedure
 Energy SPD HRA/SEA Screening Opinion
 Energy SPD SEA Screening Determination Notice
 Energy SPD EqIA Screening Report 

The draft SPD and supporting material is also available for inspection at the Civic Centre in Addlestone from 8.30am-5pm Monday to Thursdays, and 8.30am-4.30pm on Fridays, and at the following locations:

• Addlestone Library (if required outside of Civic Office hours), Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AF
• Chertsey Library, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 3BE
• Egham Library, High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9EA
• New Haw Community Library, The Broadway, New Haw, Surrey KT15 3HA
• Virginia Water Community Library, 6 Station Parade, Virginia Water GU25 4AB

Details of library opening times can be found on the Surrey County Council website.

How to make a representation

We would like you to send us your views electronically if possible. The following representation form can be used if helpful, but it is not a requirement to use the form:

 Representation form

All comments should be sent to: planningpolicy@runnymede.gov.uk

If you are unable to submit your comments electronically please post your written comments to the Planning Policy Team, Runnymede Borough Council, Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AH to arrive by the close of the consultation period (11:59pm on 31 July 2024).

Anyone can make a request to be notified of when the SPD is adopted in their representation.

All representations made during the course of the consultation must be made in writing. Anonymous representations will not be accepted. Any comments that could be construed as derogatory towards any individual or group will not be recorded or considered.

Copies of comments received during the course of the consultation, or a summary of them, will be made available for the public to view on the Council's website. Comments therefore cannot be treated as confidential. Personal details will be redacted prior to publishing. Data will be processed and held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations 2018. The Council’s data protection policy can be found on our website.

• Data protection

Information about the collection, processing, access to and protection of personal data, and your legal rights in respect of the personal information we collect from you, is described in our full Council Corporate Privacy Notice, available on our website.

• Privacy policy 

If you need help with your representation, please contact the Customer Services team in the first instance on 01932 838383 or email planning policy

Next steps

Following consultation, the Council will collate all responses and publish on the Council's website in summary form in a final Statement of Consultation. The Council will consider any issues raised and whether any final changes to the SPD are necessary. Once this is completed, the Council will be seeking to adopt the SPD in Autumn 2024.