Cookie preferences
Toggle menu

Have your say on the future of local councils in Surrey

Take part in a landmark Government consultation on proposals to replace Surrey's current councils with up to three larger authorities. We support a three unitary approach - Find out more and read our consultation question guide.

Join us for a special online engagement session hosted by the Leaders of Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils on Thursday 3 July from 7pm to 8pm via Microsoft Teams. We'll explain what Local Government Reorganisation is, outline the different options being considered, and show you how to get involved. Sign up for the session (opens new window).

Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA)

The Habitats Regulations (opens new window) state all Local Plans must be subject to a HRA. Read our HRA FAQs and briefing note (PDF, 132 KB)(opens new window). We use a Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) to identify which parts of our Local Plan could potentially affect:

HRA also identifies appropriate strategies for avoiding or mitigating these effects.

The European Habitats Directive (opens new window) means we can only allow these sites to be developed if we're satisfied the work will not harm their integrity.

Two European sites fall partially in Guildford:

  • Thames Basin Heaths SPA
  • Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham SAC

During past HRA, our consultants URS (now AECOM) (opens new window) and Natural England concluded our HRA report only needed to focus on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

The HRA screening (PDF, 637 KB)(opens new window) determined whether our Local Plan would affect the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

Read HRA documents below. The latest HRA was produced in 2016, but has been updated in 2017 and 2018. The attest updates clarify the HRA complies with a European Court judgment (opens new window). The 2019 HRA addendum supports the Main Modifications made to our Submission Local Plan after it was examined.