27. Recommendations To The Parish Council
27.1The process of developing this Neighbourhood Plan has enabled the Steering Group to assess the key areas of importance to achieve our agreed vision for the parish, and for the community to contribute to this through community consultation. In order for the Neighbourhood Plan to be implemented it will be important for the Parish Council to take action. These areas are set out below:
27.2ANP2 - Albury Village Conservation Area
- Ask Guildford Borough Council to prepare a Conservation Area Appraisal Report for the Albury Village Conservation Area that can be used to inform character and design guidance.
In order to address current affordable housing needs, the Parish Council is requested to undertake a Housing Needs Survey every 5 years commencing in 2029 and for the results of this to be incorporated into the Neighbourhood Plan in order to update the affordable housing needs of the parish.
The Housing Needs Surveys are sent out to homes in the parish and though they are indicative of those needing affordable housing who live in the parish, this group is not necessarily registered on the Guildford Housing Register. Also, the Housing Needs Survey does not take into account people who live outside the parish but who are registered on the Guildford Housing Register, have a genuine link to the parish and are seeking affordable homes here. The Parish Council are requested to keep a register of those needing affordable homes who live in the parish who are not on the Guildford Housing Register so they can be contacted and considered when affordable housing becomes available alongside those on the GBC Housing Register.
The Parish Council are asked to determine how affordable homes can be kept in perpetuity.
The Parish Council are requested to be mindful of the comments raised by parishioners in the 2024 Neighbourhood Plan parish consultation regarding the sites put forward for affordable housing and assess if they are being adequately addressed when planning applications are submitted.
- The Parish Council is requested to work with Albury History Society and the Albury Estate to determine how a more central, digitised, accessible library of parish history can be made. At the moment this is not held in one place, is not in digital form and there are few resources to support it despite parish interest in the area. In addition, the Parish Council should investigate providing historical walks, signage, Local Listing and a “blue plaque” scheme for buildings of note. This area may require funding. CIL and grants may need to be investigated.
The Community Choices Report 2016 showed requirement for a nursery, and coffee shop in Albury village. The Rural Enterprise Report 2018 further supports this. The option of a Farm shop and Farmers Market have also been raised as part of the Neighbourhood Plan parish consultation 2024. The Parish Council is requested to investigate the possibility of delivering these.
There is a need for more parking at Albury Village Hall and in Albury village generally, particularly in Westonfields. The Parish Council is requested to address this.
The Parish Council is requested to investigate better parking and access for the allotments in Albury village.
The Parish Council are requested to be mindful of the comments raised by parishioners in the Albury Parish NP Consultation 2024 APPENDIX L, regarding the sites put forward for rural enterprise and assess if they are being reflected when planning applications are submitted.
The Parish Council is requested to look at ways to improve and increase parking at Silent Pool and provide a pedestrian road crossing so the site can be accessed better by Albury and Shere parishioners as well as tourists.
- The Parish Council is requested to identify a walk that would guide visitors to historical and natural sites of beauty in the parish whilst also encompassing rural enterprise establishments including shops, post office, public houses and Silent Pool rural enterprise site. This may be called the “Albury Triangle” and include Newlands Corner, Albury village and historical centre, Little London and Silent Pool. The Optohedron Walk (MAP J), might be extended to include this.
ANP13 and 15 cover areas of Biodiversity and Net Zero these are areas of ongoing development. The Parish Council is requested to set up a working group to monitor these changes in national and local policy and to implement them as appropriate. The group should also consider the recommendations set out in the policies in particular the need to investigate how existing homes in the parish can be adapted to be energy efficient and carbon neutral. To examine funding options to deliver this and put together an ongoing education programme for parishioners as a resource which needs to be proactive rather than reactive. This area may need funding. An assessment should be undertaken of properties in the parish that are not connected to mains gas and alternatives reviewed as these may be the most inefficient homes.
The Parish Council is requested to set up a working group to identify properties that may benefit from retro fitting energy efficient schemes, and to contact the owners, providing information on advice and grant funding.
Community Infrastructure Levy can be used on local infrastructure, and this should be investigated to help fund flood relief in prone areas.
The Parish Council are requested to be mindful of parishioner’s comments in the NP Parish Consultation 2024 APPENDIX L when assessing planning applications for the Solar Array site I and try to ensure this and other green energy sites benefit the wider parish.
The Parish Council is requested to set up a Travel and Traffic working group of parish councillors and parishioners to address the traffic, speeding and parking problems identified in ANP18 and APPENDIX I the Travel and Transport Assessment Report and parishioner’s comments from the Neighbourhood Plan parish consultation 2024 APPENDIX L.
The Parish Council are requested to work with Surrey County Council and local bus companies to amend bus timetables to accommodate commuters and school children in the parish. If this is not possible then a community bus set up with other local villages should be considered.
The Parish Council are requested to work with train providers to ensure that services to local stations do not suffer from reduced timetables as trains provide a vital part of the wider travel network for parishioners and visitors.
Funds raised from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and S106 monies will be put towards the costs of maintaining and improving the network and footpaths and cycle paths and sustainable transport improvements. Developer contributions towards these costs will be sought in appropriate cases.
- It is recommended that the Parish Council addresses this including parking. There are currently no composting facilities and limited services which should be addressed.
- The Parish Council is requested to look at funding sources available to deliver the Neighbourhood Plan initiatives including S106, CIL and grant funding and to prioritise the areas identified in the Neighbourhood Plan as they are a representation of the priorities that parishioners support for Albury Parish identified in APPENDIX L.