Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities in Surrey undergoing transition to unitary status on taking major strategic planning decisions during the reorganisation period.

The Planning Advisory Service has a range of resources available to assist local planning authorities going through reorganisation, including their local government Reorganisation Delivery Network, which allows authorities to share best practice. I encourage councils going through transition to take full advantage of these resources.

Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, the new duty to prepare a spatial development strategy (SDS) will be commenced later in 2026. Initially this duty will sit with Surrey County Council and will then transfer to the new unitary councils in 2027. Officers from the County Council are in contact with MHCLG officials and will consider how best to manage this duty over the coming year.