Planning
Each week MVDC publishes planning applications that have been submitted across the district. You may comment on planning applications on the Mole Valley District Council web site using the reference number to search by.
ARA also comments, where appropriate on planning applications. Click on the buttons below to read the Letters of Representation submitted to MVDC.
If you would like to be advised of any Planning Applications near you, sign up to Mole Valley Alerts. To receive email notifications of Planning Applications in the vicinity of your own property visit My Mole Valley and enter your postcode and click on your address. On the next page click on "My Alerts" and register to receive planning notifications, which you can set at 50m, 100m or 500m from your address. This service also allows you to receive email notification on which bin is being collected.
UK-wide Planning Finder
Planningfinder is an online portal to planning applications across the United Kingdom, bringing together commercial and domestic planning applications from all.
Current Letters of Representation
ARA Guiding Principles
The Standing Committee’s guiding principles when considering planning applications are:
- We review and comment only after a planning application appears on the MVDC running list.
- We do not canvass residents’ opinions as this has the potential to involve us in disputes between neighbours.
- We avoid placing ourselves in a position that requires conflict management or sets up an expectation that we will favour one resident's view against that of another. We leave those issues to the Case Officers and Councillors.
- If residents have concerns they can raise them directly with us and we will take their views into account – but not necessarily follow their direction.
- We comment solely on aspects covered by planning policy.
Built Up Areas Character Appraisal
Mole Valley District Council has conducted Built-Up Areas Character Appraisals for the five main built-up areas in Mole Valley: Ashtead, Bookham and Fetcham, Dorking and Leatherhead.
Ashtead Neighbourhood Development Plan
Ashtead’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) for the Ashtead Neighbourhood Area contains policies about housing, economy, environment and infrastructure issues. It builds on existing planning policies in Mole Valley and addresses issues of particular concern in Ashtead. The NDP does not propose any alterations to the Green Belt.
A referendum on the Ashtead NDP was held within the Ashtead Neighbourhood Area on 4 May 2017. In response to the question "Do you want Mole Valley District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Ashtead to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?", 92% of those voting voted "yes".
The NDP was adopted by Mole Valley Council on 23 May 2017. It forms part of the Development Plan for Mole Valley and its policies will be used when considering planning applications submitted in the Ashtead Neighbourhood Area.
The Ashtead Neighbourhood Area covers the three District Council Wards of Ashtead Common, Ashtead Park and Ashtead Village.
Future Mole Valley Local Plan 2020-2037
Future Mole Valley is the name given to Mole Valley’s Local Plan 2020-2037 which will set out the Mole Valley District Council’s (MVDC) policies covering development in the District up until 2037.
The initial draft of the Plan went out to public consultation in February/March 2020 and MVDC received c.4,000 responses to it. Click here to see that draft of the Plan.
What Happens Next?
Welcome to the Future Mole Valley update.
MVDC submitted the final plan in February 2022 and is now in ther throes of being examined by the Planning Inspectorate and they will set the examination timetable, the topics the examination will cover and who will be invited to speak.
For an up to date comment on the progress of the Plan and especially the recent decision by The Secretary of State follow these links:-