Westcott Village Forum meeting 24 June 2026
Over 60 people attended the Westcott Village Forum meeting held on the 24 June 2026. A copy of the presentation slides including the presentation material presented by the Dorking Medical Practice about the provision of medical services in Westcott can be viewed by clicking on this link FINAL Westcott Forum Meeting 24 June 2026
8 June 2026 - IMPORTANT NEWS
MVDC running a new Consultation about the Safeguarding of the Riverbank Surgery as a Community Asset - now live - respond by 5pm 21 July 2026
Dear Residents, there are two important things to bring to your attention regarding the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan
- A new consultation being run by MVDC about the safeguarding of the Riverbank Surgery as a community asset which closes on 21 July and requires your response – see below
- A meeting of the Westcott Village Forum on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at Holy Trinity at 8.15pm in person or attend virtually on zoom – see below
The background – the updated Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan was submitted to the Council (MVDC) in February for independent examination. The purpose of the examination was to test whether the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan met the basic conditions and other matters set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).
The Examiner has completed his investigation and published his report. In summary the Examiner found the plan to be sound, subject to some suggested modifications, most of which were minor in nature. However, following a late representation the Examiner suggested one major change which is to remove the Riverbank Surgery from the list of safeguarded Community Assets under Policy 7.
MVDC have now considered the Examiners report and published their own Decision Statement. The Council has decided they will accept all of the modifications in the Examiner’s report apart from the suggestion to delete the Riverbank Surgery from the list of safeguarded Community Assets. This decision was made in light of a letter submitted to MVDC by the Partners of Dorking Medical Practice which the Council considered provided new and relevant information.
As a result of the decision not to follow all of the Examiner’s recommendations MVDC are now running what is called a “Focused Consultation” with just one specific question;
“Should the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan safeguard the Riverbank Surgery for its existing use under Policy WNDP7 Community Assets?”
This new focused consultation runs until 5pm on Tuesday 21 July 2026. It is important to make your views known to MVDC on this issue by responding to the consultation.
Focused Consultation Document WNDP7 Community Assets
Responses can be sent by email to planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk or in writing to Planning Policy, Mole Valley District Council, Pippbrook, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1SJ
Documentation to review;
Examiners Report 2026.05.18 – Examiner’s Report
MVDC Decision Notice 2026.06.02 – MVDC Decision Statement
Letter from the Partners of Dorking Medical Practice Letter from DMP to MVDC Westcott Neighbourhood Plan
Extract of WNDP Policy 7 Community Assets Extract from Updated WNDP – Community Assets Policy 7
A date for your diary – please also come along to a specially convened meeting of the Westcott Village Forum being held immediately after the WVA AGM on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 8.15pm at Holy Trinity. You can also attend virtually via zoom by typing this link in to your browser https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3599835712?pwd=QW9rZ2g1Sk9IcVRqQkJMQVRkOXdsQT09#success Dr Vishal Sagar of Dorking Medical Practice will also be in attendance to answer any questions about the future provision of medical services in Westcott.
Please take the time to respond to the consultation and attend the Westcott Village Forum meeting on the 24 June either in person or online.
Westcott Village Forum meeting - Wednesday 24 June 2026 8.15pm Holy Trinity (in person and on zoom - see link below)
Come and join us at the next Westcott Village Forum update meeting to be held immediately after the WVA AGM on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 8.15pm at Holy Trinity.
Following a late representation to the Independent Examiner regarding Riverbank Surgery the Examiner is minded to remove the current safeguarding of the surgery as a community asset as part of Policy 7. This change will need to be the subject of a further consultation to be run by MVDC and as a result the plans for a Referendum on whether to adopt the updated WNDP are currently on hold.
Dr Vishal Sagar, Partner at Dorking Medical Practice, who operate Riverbank Surgery, will be present at the Forum meeting on the 24 June to discuss the safeguarding of medical services within Westcott. In the meantime please read a letter from the Partners of Dorking Medical Practice submitted to the Independent Examiner on 15 May 2026 regarding medical services in Westcott Letter from DMP to MVDC Westcott Neighbourhood Plan
You may also join the meeting via zoom by typing this link in to your browser https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3599835712?pwd=QW9rZ2g1Sk9IcVRqQkJMQVRkOXdsQT09#success
2 June 2026 - MVDC Decision Notice and Examiners Report published
Independent Examination
5 May 2026 – to read a copy of a letter from WVF to Mr Eshelby of Nova Latchmere Ltd in relation to their Late Representation regarding Riverbank Surgery please follow this link T E Way letter to Mark Eshelby 05052026 and to read Policy 7 Community Assets extracted from the Updated WNDP for ease of reference, which refers to Riverbank Surgery please follow this link Extract from Updated WNDP – Community Assets Policy 7
20 April 2026 – to read a copy of the Late Representation Schedule please follow this link Late Representation Schedule
1 April 2026 – read a copy of the Representation Schedule please follow this link Representations Schedule
25 March 2026 – to read a copy of the Independent Examiners letter in response to a submission by a local resident regarding Mill Way please follow this link Updated Westcott NP – Examiner Letter 250326
16 March 2026 – to read a copy of the Independent Examiner’s letter to MVDC and the Westcott Village Forum regarding further basic conditions and legal compliance requirements please follow this link Updated Westcott NP – Examiner Legal Changes Letter 160326
3 March 2026 – to read a copy of the Westcott Village Forum (WVF) and MVDC’s answers to the examiner’s questions from the 16 February please follow this link Final WVF & MVDC responses to examiners questions 03032026 and to read the email correspondence between MVDC, the Forum and the Examiner please follow this link Email Exchange following Examiner’s Questions_Redacted
16 Feb 2026 – The Independent Examiner has written to both the Westcott Village Forum and MVDC with some questions. Please follow this link to read his letter Updated Westcott NP – Examiner questions 160226
9 Feb 2026 – The Independent Examiner has written with his initial determination and confirming he will visit the area w/c 9 February. Further details contained in his letter, follow link to read Updated Westcott NP Initial determination letter 090226
Westcott Village Forum Newsletter 12 March 2026
Click link to read https://mailchi.mp/c76a55b8b98b/wvfmarchnews
Westcott Neighbourhood Plan Examination
On 4 February 2026, the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan was submitted by the Mole Valley District Council for independent examination.
Mr Andrew Mead BSc (Hons) MRTPI MIQ has been appointed by the Council to carry out the independent examination into the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan.
The purpose of the examination is to test whether the submitted neighbourhood plan meets the basic conditions and other matters set out in Paragraph 8 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). More information on the examination process and the next steps are prescribed in national planning practice guidance on neighbourhood planning.
MVDC have set up a Westcott Neighbourhood Plan Examination page on their website which will provide updates on the progress of the examination. Follow this link to view.
From that page on their website you can view the following documents
- Examination Documents – Contains all of the documents submitted as part of, or produced during, the examination, including relevant correspondence between the Examiner, Westcott Village Form, and the Council.
- Submission Documents – Contains all of the documentation, including Regulation 16 Consultation representations, submitted to the Council.
Regulation 16 Public Consultation
Monday 8 December 2025 to Monday 2 February 2026
Following the feedback received during the “Regulation 14” Public Consultation run by the Westcott Village Forum in October and November the draft Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan has been further updated. You can read the feedback that was received during the first consultation by following the link below to the Regulation 14 Consultation Statement.
Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) are now hosting their own “Regulation 16” Public Consultation as part of its duties under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. This second consultation runs from Monday 8 December 2025 and ends at 5pm on Monday 2 February 2026.
To take part in the MVDC consultation, please send your comments to: planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk or post to Planning Policy, Mole Valley District Council, Pippbrook, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1SJ.
Please provide your name and email address (email is preferred to postal addresses). Please state clearly which policies and/or paragraph(s) of the plan you are commenting on. You may also comment on the background documents if you wish. Click the link to view the documents on the MVDC website https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/planning-building/consultations/
The documents can also be viewed by clicking the links below.
1. Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2039 (Final Submission Version) (December 2025)
3. Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report
4. Statement of Representations Procedure
5. Regulation 14 Consultation Statement
Forum Meeting 10 December 2025
Thank you to everyone who came to the WVA Open Meeting at the Prince of Wales on the 10 December 2025, this included an update from the Westcott Village Forum – you can read the meeting notes by following this link WVF Meeting Minutes 101225 Final
Thank you for your feedback. The public consultation on the draft Updated Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2039 has now closed.
After six weeks and two public exhibitions, the public consultation on to the draft Updated Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2039 has now closed.
Thank you for all your feedback and suggestions. These are now being used to create a revised plan which will be submitted along with a consultation statement detailing how the comments were addressed, to Mole Valley District Council for the next stage of the process. The next stage is another formal consultation this time run by MVDC (known as a Regulation 16 consultation) followed by an independent examination by a Planning Inspector in the new year.
You can still view the draft plan that was put out to consultation by clicking this link WNDP 2020-2039 Final Reg14 Consultation Draft October 2025
You can still view the results of the Community Survey by clicking this link WNDP Appendix 2 Full Survey Summary and you can still view the results of the Surrey Community Action Housing Needs Survey by clicking this link SCA Westcott Housing Needs Survey Report
Westcott Village Forum meeting #4 on Thursday 4 September 2025 at Holy Trinity
Thank you to the Forum members who attended the Westcott Village Forum meeting #4. A copy of the meeting notes and presentation can be found below by following the links. Full details of the draft policies have also been sent by email to all Forum members who are asked to feedback any further comments or observations for the attention of the Forum Chair, Tim Way by sending an email to contact@westcottvillage.com by Monday 15 September 2025
WNDP Forum Presentation – Meeting 4 (04-Sep-2025) for publication v3.0
Thank you for completing the Community Survey and where relevant the Housing Needs Survey
The results of the Community Survey have been reviewed and have been used to shape the new policies in the draft Updated Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan. A copy of the full results can be viewed by following this link WNDP Appendix 2 Full Survey Summary
Surrey Community Action have also reviewed the results of their Housing Needs Survey and have provided the following anonymised report to demonstrate the type of housing needed in the Neighbourhood Area which will be useful to any potential future developers to understand. A copy of their report can be viewed by following this link SCA Westcott Housing Needs Survey Report
The Community Survey has captured your views on a variety of topics all of which will help inform the new policies in the updated Westcott Neighbourhood Plan. The key themes are shown in the word cloud below.
Thank you for visiting our Westcott Village Forum stand at WESTfest - it was great to talk to so many residents about our work to update the WNDP
MVDC Cabinet approves designation of the Westcott Village Forum - 17 June 2025
Mole Valley District Council Cabinet voted to approve the designation of the Westcott Village Forum as the body that would consult the community on the updated Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan. They also voted to designate the boundary for the Neighbourhood Area which shows the geographic area to be covered by the Plan. A copy of the minute from the Cabinet meeting can be viewed by following this link 09. Designation of the Westcott Village Forum as a neighbourhood forum and approval of the neighbourhood area for the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan
Westcott Village Forum meeting #3 - Thursday 22 May 7.30pm at Holy Trinity
Thank you to everyone who attended the Westcott Village Forum meeting on the 22 May. Please follow this link to view a copy of the presentation slides Final Presentation WNDP Forum – Meeting 3 (22-May-2025)
There was a good discussion along with updates from the various working groups, including details on the community survey, the current planning environment and housing number targets for Westcott and the communications plan. Full meeting notes will be posted here shortly. We look forward to seeing everyone at WESTfest please come along to the Westcott Village Forum stand and say hello.
1 April 2025 - Mole Valley District Council currently consulting on designating the Westcott Village Forum and the Westcott Neighbourhood Area
Following our application to Mole Valley District Council they are now consulting for a six week period (1 April to 16 May 2025) on designating both the Westcott Village Forum and the Westcott Neighbourhood Area. If designated the Westcott Village Forum will then oversee and consult the community on the development of the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Westcott Neighbourhood Area is the area to which the development plan relates.
To view Mole Valley’s consultation please follow the link consultations
Or to view the individual documents please follow the links below;
Boundary application for Westcott Neighbourhood March 2025
Appendix 2 – Westcott Village Forum Constitution
Appendix 3 – updated list of Forum members to follow
Appendix 4 – Forum Responsibilities
19 March 2025 - Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan - Boundary Application and Village Forum Constitution
Follow this link to view the final version of the Boundary application for Westcott Neighbourhood March 2025
View the final version of the Neighbourhood Area Boundary here 
Follow this link to view the final version of the Appendix 2 – Westcott Village Forum Constitution
Follow this link to view the newsletter sent to all Forum members on 19 March 2025 https://mailchi.mp/00ceec9a1699/westcott-village-forum-constitution
Westcott Village Forum meeting #2 - Thursday 27 February 2025
Thank you to everyone who came to the 2nd meeting of the Westcott Village Forum on the 27 February 2025. Copies of the presentation material and all the documentation discussed at the meeting can be found below along with the Minutes of the meeting.
Please can members of the Forum review and comment on the Draft Westcott Village Forum Constitution document by Friday 14 March 2025 – submit your views/comments/suggestions via the link in the newsletter sent to your inbox or by email to contact@westcottvillage.com
Agenda WVF AGENDA 2nd mtg – 27Feb2025
Boundary application Boundary application v2
Draft Constitution DRAFT Westcott Village Forum Constitution 2025
Presentation WNDP Forum – Meeting 2 (27-Feb-2025) v3
Minutes of the Meeting FINAL minutes of the 2nd Westcott Village Forum 27February2025
Updating the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2026 and beyond
Work has started to review and update the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan for 2026 and beyond. Over 100 residents have so far expressed an interest in taking part in a new Village Forum, who together with three dedicated working groups and a Programme Manager, will review and update the WNDP to set a new positive vision for future development and planning policy within Westcott. This work is expected to take 12 months and the new revised plan will then be put to a formal referendum of all village residents for approval with more than 50% of those voting needing to say “yes” to bring the plan in to force.
The inaugural meeting of the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan – Village Forum was held on the 12th November 2024 with over 40 people attending. A copy of presentation can be viewed by following this link. WNDP Forum – inaugural meeting (12-Nov-2024) – std
Notes of the meeting can be viewed by following this link Notes – WNDP Forum Meet 121124
Volunteers were sought for three working groups
Policy Working Group led by Ian Dunsford
Evidence & Data Working Group led by Chris Smewing
Community Engagement & Communications Working Group led by Jo Astor. These working groups will report back and present their ideas to the Village Forum for wider discussion and debate.
If you would like to volunteer to join any of the working groups or the wider Village Forum it is not too late, the more the merrier, please send an email to contact@westcottvillage.com
A summary of the WNDP and Village Forum activity was also presented to parents of the Surrey Hills All Saints Primary School before the Celebration Assembly on Friday 7 February.
The current Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2017 to 2026
The current Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan (WNDP) covers the planning period 2017 to 2026 and was developed by a group of local volunteers who came together in 2012 to form a Village Forum, the plan was extensively consulted on and formally adopted by Mole Valley District Council following a referendum of all village residents in December 2017, where 91% of those who voted in the referendum said yes they wished MVDC to adopt the plan and take it in to consideration when deciding on planning applications. The WVA is responsible for maintaining and updating the NDP and monitoring planning applications in the context of the plan.
A copy of the approved Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2017-2026 can be found on the Mole Valley website or by clicking this link Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan 2017-2026
