After several years of work and the help of almost 100 volunteers, the Neighbourhood Plan referendum was held on 7th October 2021.  The plan was supported by 87.4% of those voting and was officially “made” on 12th November 2021. It now forms part of the development plan for Haslemere and planning applications must take the Neighbourhood Plan policies into account.

The Plan sets out the Vision for the Haslemere Neighbourhood Plan Area (Beacon Hill, Critchmere, Grayswood, Haslemere, Hindhead and Shottermill) as follows:

That Haslemere and its villages continue to thrive for all sections of the community; that what is best about the town and its surrounding environments be protected; and that in future a larger, more diverse and vibrant local economy be accommodated with more local workers living and working in the area.

The Objectives of the Plan are:

• To encourage development of high quality socially and environmentally conscious housing that meets the needs of the community and respects the character of the area, in particular to encourage development of more homes for young people, local workers and homes suitable for downsizers
• To protect and enrich our green spaces, biodiversity and the natural environment that surrounds us
• To re-balance road use, limiting the adverse impact of motor vehicles by improving provision for off-street parking and improving facilities for alternative forms of transport
• To protect existing employment and to encourage the development of a more diverse range of local employment opportunities to create an increasingly vibrant and sustainable local economy

This is achieved by 16 policies. The full plan can be found here and the evidence base here. Since the adoption of the plan, Haslemere Vision has supported the Town Council and others in implementation of the plan and we will continue this work.