ONF Steering Committee Meeting Summary 20th Nov 2025

We held our bi-monthly meeting in which we reviewed progress on several local projects and address concerns around infrastructure, compliance, and community impact. Here’s what was discussed and what happens next:

📸 NCIL Project: CCTV and Community Safety

The CCTV projects remain on hold while support costs are determined.

Next step: Head of RBC Community Services to liaise with Surrey County Council to resolve these issues.

🌳 NCIL Project: New Murray House Play Area

The funding for this is expected to be approved imminently.

📣 Community Engagement & Communication

Preparations for improving our ONF community website are underway, with a new draft design being created. We hope to be able to share this with you before Christmas.

Neighbourhood Plan

The draft and associated Design Code is nearing completion and will soon be made available for community comment.

🛣️ A320 & AIA Compliance

Significant issues have been flagged with Surrey County Council regarding the discharge of conditions relating to the A320 Improvements Scheme (Trees and Landscape). Concerns that the ONF SC have raised include:

• A supplementary Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) which has found major omissions in the approved documents and has indicated a high risk of loss to the oak trees in Murray Road.

• Material changes to the Landscape plan which removes large areas of woodland from the north side of the car park (the screen for the village from the roundabout)

Next step: The conditions have been "called" for formal consideration at SCC Planning Committee. Cllr Jonathan Hulley will lead on our representations.

⚠️ Traffic Calming

Surrey County Council has committed to assessing 20 mph speed limits as part of traffic-calming measures in the Ottershaw area. Other calming measures are being considered also.

Next step: A proper review will determine where these measures should be implemented. Upgrades planned for 26/27.

📑 Strategic Planning

We discussed Runnymede Borough Council planning for the next emerging local plan, given potential future joint council challenges, and upcoming government-funded assessments taking place currently, these included:

• Part one of the Green Belt Review assessment will scope changes needed in existing green belt reviews, with a final report expected in Spring 2026.

• Government funding has been secured for a joint green/grey belt assessment with Spelthorne and Elmbridge borough councils.

• Final report on Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment is expected late 2025 to early 2026.

• Local Plan Engagement Strategy consultation - The consultation was launched on Monday 20^th October and closes on Monday 1^st December.  The consultation seeks to identify means of increasing the response rates to Local Plan consultations and increasing the level of representation amongst under-represented groups.  Full details of the consultation can be found at this link: https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/planning-policy/runnymede-local-plan-engagement-strategy

Action: Comments on the consultation strategy are due by 1st December - should anyone wish to comment on it, please use the link above.

🗓️ Upcoming Meetings

• December 4th: Steering Committee meeting

• December 18th: Steering Committee meeting

We’re committed to transparency and collaboration as we move forward with these important pieces of work. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to check the blog regularly for the latest news.