Members of the CR3 Forum Steering Group, from left: Professor Ted Howard, Cllr. Geoff Duck, Mary Mountain, Cllr. Sarah Burningham, Chris Windridge, Cllr. Jackie Servant and Cllr. Jenny Gaffney.

CR3 residents are being asked to comment on the first draft of the CR3 Neighbourhood Plan.

In 2011, The government introduced the right to do neighbourhood planning through the Localism Act to encourage communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of a small group of volunteers, the residents living in the CR3 postcode part of Tandridge now have the first draft of their own, detailed Neighbourhood Plan for the area ready to read and respond to.

The Neighbourhood Plan sets out the local issues and needs identified by the volunteers, who are known as the CR3 Forum, during the course of their research over the last four years. Once officially adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan will become part of Tandridge District Council’s set of policies that are used to make planning decisions in the area, giving the CR3 community a significant role in future planning and decision making for the area. The only other area of Tandridge to have produced a Neigbourhood Plan is Woldingham.

The first draft of the Neighbourhood Plan (‘The Pre-submission CR3 Forum Neighbourhood Plan 2013-2035’) can be viewed online at www.cr3forum.org.uk or printed versions are available at Caterham-on-the-Hill and Caterham Valley libraries.

Residents can also view supporting documents via the website, including all the data and analyses used to formulate the policies in the Neighbourhood Plan. The Site Assessments that have been carried out on the sites that have been identified for potential new housing can also be viewed on the website. The assessments show that most, if not all the sites on green belt land, are defended.

CR3 Forum Steering Group member, Cllr. Geoff Duck, said: “More housing in CR3 is inevitable. We cannot tell Tandridge District Council that we do not want any more housing. Every local authority has targets set by the government that it has to meet but by having a Neighbourhood Plan, we can influence the decisions made by Tandridge District Council about where new housing will go in CR3.”

The National Planning Policy Framework requires that local planning authorities identify the Objectively Assessed Need (‘OAN’) for housing in their areas and the OAN for CR3, based on a scientific appraisal on what the population will be in the next 20 years, is 2,560 new dwellings between 2015 and 2035 at an average rate of 128 units per annum.

The CR3 Forum is holding a consultation period which ends on 31st May, where residents can express their views on issues raised in the draft Plan (Document 2: ‘The Pre-submission Plan’ at www.cr3forum.org.uk).

Comments from the consultation period will be assessed for the next revision of the Plan. The revised Plan will then be considered by Tandridge District Council, who again will publicise it for further public consultation. Finally a planning inspector will decide on whether it is ready for submission to a public referendum. It is hoped the referendum to ask local residents if they agree with the policies in the Neighbourhood Plan will take place in October or November this year. If the majority of voters say ‘Yes’ the Neighbourhood Plan will then become part of the set of policies that are used to make planning decisions in the area.

To take part in the consultation, please e-mail your comments on the Pre-submission document to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send by post to CR3 Admin Officer, Salmons, Salmons Lane, Whyteleafe, Surrey CR3 0HB.