A six week consultation on the Burstow and Smallfield Neighbourhood Plan closed at 11.59pm on Thursday 25 June 2026.
The consultation was carried out in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning General Regulations 2012.
About the plan
The Burstow and Smallfield Neighbourhood Plan will help shape how the neighbourhood area develops in the future and will be used by the Council when making decisions on planning applications.
The plan includes policies that:
- Promote sustainable development.
- Support high quality design.
- Protect local character.
- Meet local housing needs.
- Address sustainable drainage and transport impacts.
- Designate local green spaces.
You can view the Neighbourhood Plan and its supporting documents below.
Documents
Responses received during consultation period
A schedule of all responses received to the Reg 16 Consultation is provided.
Late responses
The following response was received after 25 June 2026.
• Environment Agency.
Neighbourhood Plan Examination
An independent examiner, Ann Skippers BSc (Hons), Dip Mgmt (Open), PGC (TLHE) (Open), MRTPI, FHEA, FRSA, AoU has been appointed to examine the Burstow and Smallfield Neighbourhood Plan.
As part of the examination of the plan, the examiner must consider whether the plan meets basic conditions and satisfies legal requirements.
The plan must:
- Have regard to national policies and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
- Contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
- Not result in the development plan for the area of the authority proposing less housing in the neighbourhood area than if the neighbourhood plan were not to be made.
- Not breach, and be otherwise compatible with the EU legislation and convention rights under the Human Rights Act 1998; and
- Not breach the requirements of Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
- Contribute to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, taking account of any Local Nature Recovery Strategy insofar as this relates to the neighbourhood area.
The examiner wrote her initial procedural note to us and Burstow Parish Council on 27 July 2026.
The examiner wrote her questions of clarification to us on 6 August 2026. This has been sent to Burstow Parish Council.
On 21 August 2026, Tandridge District Council and Burstow Parish Council responded to the questions of clarification.
The examiner wrote a further note to us and Burstow Parish Council regarding the new NPPF on 23 August 2026.
On 3 September 2026, Burstow Parish Council and Tandridge District Council responded to the further note.
Independent examination report published
On 24 September 2026, Tandridge District Council received the Independent Examiner's Report for the Burstow and Smallfield Neighbourhood Plan.
The examination considered whether the Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions and other relevant legal requirements. The independent Examiner, Ann Skippers, BCs (Hons) Dip Mgmt (Open), PGC (TLHE), MRTPI FRSA FHEA AoU has recommended that the Neighbourhood Plan proceeds to referendum, subject to the modifications set out in the examiner's report.
Next steps
The council will now consider the examiner's recommendations and determine whether the Neighbourhood Plan, incorporating the recommended modifications, should proceed to referendum. This decision will be set out in a formal Decision Statement, which will be published on this webpage as soon as it is available.
If the council decides that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum, this will be organised to enable those registered to vote in the referendum area to decide whether the Plan should be used to help determine planning applications within the neighbourhood area.