Runnymede Draft Pitch and Plot Allocation Scheme for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Supplementary Planning Document Consultation

Background information 

Runnymede Borough Council has prepared a draft Pitch and Plot Allocation Scheme for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople SPD for public consultation. The SPD contains guidance to support the implementation of Policy SL22 of the adopted Runnymede 2030 Local Plan which is concerned with meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. Specifically, it seeks to provide further clarity on how the part of the policy on page 110 of the Local Plan, which is concerned with the provision of new pitches and plots on sites allocated through the Local Plan, should be applied, with information specifically provided on: 

  • The phasing of site delivery and trigger points to secure early delivery of allocated pitches and plots, proportionate to the wider site delivery
  • Measures to ensure the allocated pitches and plots are secured in perpetuity for Gypsies, Travellers or Travelling Showpeople
  • The Council’s policy for Allocation (to preserve access for those with a local connection) and
  • Affordable pitches and plots (should any come forward on the allocated sites)

Information is also provided on:

  • Evidence that will be required in support of a completed eligibility form
  • General points related to allocated pitches/plots
  • Data Protection and Privacy 
  • Equal opportunities and monitoring
  • Appeals and Reviews 
  • Complaints 
  • Fraud
  • The review of scheme

Consultation on the draft Runnymede Pitch and Plot Allocation Scheme for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople 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 Assessment. 

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:

PDF icon Draft Runnymede Pitch and Plot Allocation Scheme for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople SPD
PDF icon Regulation 12 Statement of Consultation and Representations Procedure
PDF icon HRA/SEA Screening Opinion
PDF icon Equalities Assessment

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 rep-resentation form can be used if helpful, but it is not a requirement to use the form:

Microsoft Word icon 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 rep-resentation.

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

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 re-dacted 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.

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.

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 neces-sary. Once this is completed, the Council will be seeking to adopt the SPD in Autumn 2024.