Dorking Town Area Action Plan - Discussion Paper

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 The Mole Valley Local Development Framework (LDF) is being prepared by the Council. It will contain a suite of related development plans which together establish the spatial planning strategy for the District by indicating where development will take place, what type of development will be provided and how it will be provided.  See Appendix 1 for further information on the LDF. 

1.2 The first and principal document in this suite of plans to have been prepared is the Core Strategy which sets out the overarching spatial planning strategy for the District. This was adopted in October 2009 and commits the Council to the preparation of an Area Action Plan (AAP) for Dorking town.

1.3 The application of the objectives and policies of the Core Strategy to the town will therefore be taken forward through the AAP. It  will bring together, in a single document, a suite of land use planning policies and development proposals for the town with the policies and delivery programmes of agencies who provide services and carry out activities which shape the lives of communities who live, work and visit the town.

1.4 This document is the first stage in the preparation of the AAP.  It is a discussion paper that sets out the context for the Plan's preparation, raises questions about the future of the town and the issues it faces and puts forward some outline ideas about the options for resolving them. It has been informed by national, regional and local planning policies and background studies which are listed in Appendices. It has also taken into account the responses that were received at the consultation event that was held in Dorking town between 2nd and 4th July 2009 when there was an opportunity for anyone interested in the future of the town to flag up their views on the issues facing it.

1.5 This discussion document is not putting forward proposals or policies but raises the issues facing the town and seeks to stimulate debate and discussion about them within the local community, including those who live, work, invest and visit the town. It is also looking to generate suggestions and proposals for resolving these issues, for further consideration during the subsequent stages in the preparation of the AAP.

1.6 In order to stimulate debate and open up discussion, this document does indicate where the Council would like to see the provision of of new shopping development.

1.7 In its final form, the AAP will allocate sites for specific uses and include policies to facilitate positive change and enhancement within the town which will contribute to the delivery of the Core Strategy's vision for the town. It will also take forward those existing town centre policies in the Mole Valley Local Plan (2000) which are required to facilitate delivery of the AAP's objectives.

Community and Stakeholder Consultation

1.8 The Council welcomes your comments on any aspect of the key topic issues set out in this discussion paper. This will help inform the Council's approach to allocating sites for development and drawing up measures to, protect and enhance the town. Respondents do not need to comment on all issues and may raise other issues or identify sites that are not mentioned in the discussion paper.

1.9 Consultation on the discussion paper runs from Wednesday 17th February to Wednesday 31st March 2010.

Picture 1.1 West Street