The call for sites is an opportunity for anyone to suggest sites for development to the council. The sites are then assessed in the Land Availability Assessment (LAA), which identifies future sources of land for development, and/or considered for inclusion on the Brownfield Land Register, which provides details of previously developed sites that are considered suitable for residential development.
Who can make a call for sites submission?
Anyone can suggest a site for development. When you submit a site, you will be asked about your connection to the site and the details of the landowners. The submission must include a map of the site and a copy of the Title Deeds.
Types of development considered by the council
For the Land Availability Assessment (LAA), proposals for all types of housing, commercial and economic development will be assessed. This covers a broad range of development types and planning use classes, including, but not limited to:
- housing (for example, market housing, affordable housing, older persons accommodation, Gypsy and Traveller accommodation and moorings for houseboats)
- redevelopment of sites, particularly within our existing built-up areas
- economic (for example, offices, light industrial, industrial and warehousing)
- retail (for example, convenience retail, supermarkets, shopping centres and retail parks)
- social infrastructure (for example, schools, health facilities, community facilities)
- leisure and cultural (for example, gyms, swimming pools, museums and galleries)
- open space (for example, local greenspace, accessible natural greenspace, land for biodiversity net gain, sports pitches, playing fields, parks or gardens)
- a mix of above uses
Only sites put forward for housing can be considered for inclusion on the Brownfield Land Register. The site must meet the definition of previously developed land (PDL) set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Location of sites
The call for sites is not restricted to any particular location. It can be anywhere within the borough, including sites that straddle the borough boundary.
Size of sites
For inclusion in the LAA, sites put forward for housing must be capable of delivering 5 or more dwellings. Sites put forward for commercial or economic development must be at least 0.25 hectares (or capable of delivering at least 500 square metres of floor space). Traveller sites should be capable of accommodating at least one pitch or plot, up to a maximum of 15.
For inclusion on the Brownfield Land Register, the site must be at least of 0.25 hectares or capable of supporting at least 5 dwellings.
How to submit a site
To submit a site for consideration, complete the online form. Please complete a separate form for each site (and each development proposal).
To request this form in an alternative format please email PlanningPolicy@elmbridge.gov.uk or call 01372 474474.
Timing for call for sites
This is an 'open' call for sites which accepts submissions at any time. However, sites submitted after the 31 December cut off date will not be included in the next LAA and will be held for inclusion in subsequent iterations of the LAA.
Previously assessed or submitted sites
Planning officers will be reassessing sites included in the previous LAAs and assessing sites which have been submitted previously. We will be in touch to request up to date information on these previously submitted sites. In the meantime, we would be grateful to receive resubmissions via the online form. This will ensure we have up-to-date and consistent baseline information for all sites.
Disclaimer
Information gathered will allow the council to consider promoted sites in relation to their suitability, availability and achievability for development in the context of planning policy, environmental constraints and the extent to which these can be mitigated or addressed.
It is important to note that the LAA is a technical assessment used to ascertain what options are available to the council when considering allocating sites suitable for development. The inclusion of a site in the LAA does not guarantee that the council will grant planning permission for development or allocate the land for development in the Local Plan. All planning applications must, and will continue to be, determined against the development plan and material planning considerations.