The location of new homes in Farnham, the design of new development and the protection of community facilities and services are just some of the issues residents are being asked to comment on in a survey that seeks views on Farnham’s draft neighbourhood plan.

The six-week consultation runs from 31 October to 5pm on 15 December and everybody who completes the survey will be entered into a free draw to win an Apple iPad Mini.

Neighbourhood planning aims to give communities more of a say in how Farnham will be developed. Over the past two years, Farnham Town Council has had discussions with residents, businesses and people who have an interest in the town to find out how they would like Farnham to be in 2031.

Councillor Carole Cockburn, Lead Member of Farnham’s Infrastructure Planning Group says: “The draft neighbourhood plan outlines policies, designed to deliver the shared vision for Farnham but robust enough to satisfy higher level planning policy. Every aspect of the plan can be debated during the six-week consultation. The neighbourhood plan is a powerful tool and is important for the protection of Farnham.

“The neighbourhood plan must comply with the strategic aims of Waverley Borough Council’s Local Plan. However, it can determine where housing should be concentrated in the town and define the quality of those houses. The sites that have been put forward as potential housing sites have been the subject of an intensive and objective assessment.”

Cllr Cockburn adds: “The team that has been working on the draft neighbourhood plan has visited every site on foot and has worked out a density figure for each site, based on a sample from surrounding development. To ensure fairness, every site was assessed against the same criteria and the final decision was made on the advice of our planning consultant, on planning grounds alone. It is worth adding that the inclusion of any potential housing site can change if there is sufficient planning evidence to support it.”

Throughout the consultation period there will be many opportunities for people to find out more information and to ask questions about the draft neighbourhood plan. Events include an information roadshow, which will visit each of Farnham’s main communities and a community pop up café will be held in Castle Street on Saturday 8 November and Saturday 6 December.

The draft neighbourhood plan, supporting documents and survey can be found on our neighbourhood plan consultation pages from Friday 31 October. Hard copies can be viewed in the Farnham Town Council offices in South Street.