At a meeting of Full Council last night, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) agreed to proceed with a public consultation on proposed Main Modifications to the borough's Local Plan (2022-2040). The changes, which include additional site allocations identified through the examination process, have been requested by the government-appointed Planning Inspector to make the plan sound. The six-week consultation is scheduled to begin on or around Monday 2 November 2026.

EEBC submitted its Local Plan for independent examination on 10 March 2025. Hearings took place between August and October 2025, when most of the proposed changes (modifications) to policies within the Local Plan were discussed, and again in July 2026. The Planning Inspector has asked the council to consult on a schedule of proposed main modifications to the submitted Local Plan. The proposed modifications range from minor changes to policy wording to the inclusion of additional site allocations in the urban area and on land proposed to be removed from the Green Belt. There are also some proposed changes to the policy relating to the racecourse and racehorse training industry.  

The EEBC Licensing and Planning Policy Committee (LPPC) recommended in September that the consultation should go ahead. Speaking of the upcoming consultation, Councillor Peter O’Donovan, Chair of LPPC, said:

“The Planning Inspector has identified changes that are necessary to our Local Plan to ensure it is sound, which is essential for it to be adopted.

An up-to-date Local Plan will help protect Epsom and Ewell from speculative development in locations that may not be sustainable. If it is adopted, the Local Plan would help protect the character, heritage and green spaces that residents value, ensuring new development is planned strategically.

The plan would also support the delivery of new homes, including affordable homes. With more than 1,450 households on the borough’s housing waiting list and over 260 Epsom and Ewell households living in temporary accommodation, providing homes remains a priority for the council.

However, the Local Plan is about more than housing. It includes policies to secure high-quality design, deliver high environmental standards and guide development across the borough's towns and local centres, supporting employment opportunities and business growth across the borough.

I encourage anyone with an interest in the future of our borough to take part in the consultation."

Consultation documents, along with instructions on how to comment, will be available on the council's planning policy consultation platform. Printed copies will also be available for inspection in local libraries and at Epsom Town Hall during opening hours.

All comments received during the consultation will be submitted to the Planning Inspector.

The Inspectors final examination report will include a schedule of changes required for the Local Plan to be adopted and this will conclude the Local Plan examination. Councillors will then be invited to make a final decision at a future Full Council meeting whether to approve the Epsom and Ewell Local Plan (2022-2040) as modified by the Planning Inspector.