Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can give us your views by answering the questions in the questionnaire, by each key development opportunity area and commenting on the interactive map. 2. Will my feedback be confidential? Your feedback will be anonymous, but all feedback will be made public. We would like to know your contact details so we can feed back on how the responses influenced the masterplan. However, it is not compulsory for you to tell us this. 3. Isn't this the same as the Local Plan? No. The Local Plan is a borough-wide statutory document that once adopted will be what is used to assess and determine planning applications against. This Town Centre masterplan is being developed in parallel to inform the Local Plan in terms of the vision, objectives, and potential development within the Town Centre. The masterplan will be a key part of the evidence base supporting the new Local Plan. 4. How will my feedback be taken into account? We will analyse all results and make decisions based on technical evidence base and the feedback we receive to the consultation. Community engagement and consultation is one part of the evidence base informing the masterplan. We have to balance differing public views and technical evidence to make informed decisions. 5. I can’t use the technology; can I participate in another way? We will hold two in-person exhibitions, where you can come and speak to Council representatives, who will either help you through the consultation or arrange alternative way for you to record your views. 6. Don’t you already have a plan for the Town Centre? “Plan E” was designed to run until 2026. Whilst there are still 4 years to go, the new Local Plan will run until 2040 and will replace “Plan E”. 7. How will you report on the findings? With the final master plan, we will publish a section which explains how feedback from the community has been taken into account. 8. Will the Master Plan be a Statutory document? The Epsom Town Centre Masterplan will be a key piece of evidence to inform the Council’s borough-wide Local Plan (2022-2040). 9. Will there be further opportunities to comment before plans are finalised? This stage is early engagement to inform a draft Town Centre masterplan. The new Local Plan will provide further opportunity for you to have your say and see how the vision, objectives and key development opportunity sites have evolved. The new Local Plan consultation will run from November-December 2022. Further information can be found on the Council’s webpage. 10. What are the next steps? The outline timetable is for a draft of the masterplan to inform the new Local Plan which will be considered by Licensing and Planning Policy Committee on 27th October 2022. A six-week public consultation will begin on the whole Local Plan following agreement by the committee. The outcome of the consultation will inform a final version of the masterplan. It is anticipated that the masterplan will be completed in March 2023. |