You don’t need to be a planning expert
RBWM’s Local Plan consultation asks for your views about housing, the environment, infrastructure, transport, the economy and the future of our communities.
This guide does not tell you what answers to give.
It highlights some issues you may want to consider so that you can make your own informed response.
You don’t need to write something for every question. Concentrate on the things that matter to you.
Q2 — When planning new homes, what matters most?
RBWM asks you to consider choices involving Green Belt, affordable housing, building heights, family homes, existing communities and employment land.
Think about whether there are other questions that should be considered too.
For example:
- Have we made the best use of brownfield land and existing buildings?
- Could empty or underused buildings be brought back into use?
- Where could development be supported by good public transport?
- What types of homes do local people actually need?
- How much genuinely affordable Social Rent housing is needed?
- Can development avoid increasing flood, pollution and infrastructure problems?
Answer the choices according to your own priorities.
Q3 — Where should future housing growth go?
The questionnaire asks you to rank locations including existing towns and villages, Green Belt expansion and redevelopment of employment sites.
Think about the consequences as well as the location.
Could homes be provided through regeneration, brownfield land, redundant buildings or appropriate urban intensification?
Would residents need cars for most journeys?
What infrastructure would be required?
What would happen to nature and flood risk?
Q4 — What makes a strong and successful community?
This is one of your best opportunities to explain what you want a community to be like.
You might consider:
homes people can afford; Social Rent; good schools; healthcare; public transport; jobs; shops; community facilities; parks and nature; clean air; low crime; places for children; accessibility; protection from flooding and extreme heat; and opportunities to walk and cycle.
You do not need to mention everything. Explain what matters most to you and why.
Q5 — Which three environmental priorities?
RBWM asks you to select only three priorities from issues including carbon emissions, water efficiency, walking and cycling, green spaces, biodiversity, flood risk and air quality.
Choose the three that matter most to you.
However, if you believe these issues are interconnected and should all form part of a responsible Local Plan, you can use the “Other” box to say so.
You might also want to mention issues not expressly listed, such as:
extreme heat and overheating; climate adaptation; tree canopy and urban cooling; noise; road particulates; chemical pollution; water security; ecosystem connectivity; or nature-based flood management.
Q6 — What should be safeguarded or improved?
This is where your local knowledge is particularly valuable.
Think about actual places:
Which parks, trees, rivers, landscapes, wildlife habitats, views or historic places matter?
Where should nature be restored?
Where is additional tree planting needed?
Which areas flood?
Where are ecological connections missing?
What places would you particularly regret losing?
Tell the Council about them.
Q7 & Q8 — Infrastructure
Q7 asks you to select three priorities for developer contributions, while Q8 gives you space to explain what infrastructure would make the biggest difference.
Think beyond roads alone.
New and existing communities may need:
frequent public transport; safe walking and cycling; schools; GPs and healthcare; electricity/grid capacity; water and sewerage capacity; flood protection; community facilities; parks; trees; sustainable drainage and other green infrastructure.
Ask yourself:
What infrastructure is already inadequate where I live?
That is valuable information for the Council.
Q9 & Q10 — Our future economy
Think about what sort of economy the Borough should have in 15–20 years.
Should we support existing businesses and town centres?
Do we need better transport to employment?
Could we attract new businesses and skilled jobs?
Could the Thames Valley become a leader in industries such as clean energy, low-carbon construction, environmental technology, climate resilience and nature recovery, alongside its existing economic strengths?
Also consider whether local workers can afford to live within reasonable reach of their jobs.
Q11 — Your high street or town centre
Be specific.
What would make your centre better?
Perhaps more shops, homes, trees, seating, public spaces, public transport, cycle parking, cultural facilities or easier walking?
Are there empty buildings or underused sites that could have a better use?
What would make you visit more often?
Q12 — What should be the Plan’s top priorities?
RBWM asks you to rank nine priorities including housing, genuinely affordable housing, economic growth, transport, Green Belt, community infrastructure, nature, heritage and climate change.
Rank them according to your own priorities.
But remember that good planning may allow several objectives to be achieved together.
More homes do not necessarily have to mean less nature.
Economic growth does not necessarily have to mean more pollution.
Better public transport can support housing, jobs, cleaner air and lower carbon emissions simultaneously.
If you think the Council should seek solutions that achieve several objectives together rather than simply trading one against another, consider saying so in Q13.
Q13 — Don’t miss this question
“Are there any other issues that should be addressed in the Plan?”
This is perhaps your best opportunity to tell the Council what you think the Local Plan should achieve overall.
You have up to 5,000 characters.
You could consider some or all of these questions:
- Are we building the homes local people actually need?
- Should Social Rent be specifically planned for?
- Have we fully investigated brownfield land and existing buildings first?
- How should we protect and restore nature?
- Are we planning properly for Thames and surface-water flooding?
- Will homes remain safe during future heatwaves and extreme weather?
- How can we reduce air pollution, noise and particulates?
- Could better public transport reduce congestion and car dependency?
- Will schools, healthcare, water, sewerage and energy infrastructure be ready before development occurs?
- How can development support good jobs and a strong local economy?
- How should the Plan contribute towards net zero?
- Should the Council compare different development strategies against their effects on health, nature, carbon, flooding and infrastructure before deciding where development should go?
One possible principle
You might agree with all, some or none of this. Put it into your own words:
We should build the right homes, in the right places, for the people who need them, while creating a greener, healthier, better-connected and climate-resilient Borough. Homes, jobs, transport, schools, healthcare, nature, flood protection and infrastructure should be planned together from the beginning.
Then explain what that means for you and your neighbourhood.
Q14–Q20 — How should the Council involve you?
These questions are about future consultation.
Tell the Council what would genuinely make it easier for you to participate.
If planning consultations feel too complicated, say so.
If you would prefer plain-English explanations, maps, public meetings, online events or better notification, this is your opportunity to ask for them.
Finally: make it personal
A consultation response doesn’t have to sound like it was written by a planning lawyer.
In fact, your experience can be more useful.
Instead of simply saying:
“Flood risk is important.”
you might explain:
“Our road floods after heavy rain already. I am concerned about what another 500 homes upstream could mean unless drainage and flood storage are planned first.”
Instead of:
“Improve public transport.”
explain:
“The last bus is too early for people returning from work, so most families here need a car.”
Instead of:
“Protect biodiversity.”
tell the Council about the woodland, river, field, trees or wildlife corridor you actually know.
Your voice matters
The Local Plan will influence development for many years.
You don’t need to answer like an expert.
Tell the Council what you value, what problems you experience now, what you are worried about for the future—and what kind of Borough you want us to become.
More information
You can get more information;
- What could you consider when responding to the consultation – our guide, “Help Shape the Future of Our Borough” – click here
- Online at RBWM – click here
- Download the PDF Booklet, “New Local Plan Consultation July 2026 Brief Explainer” – click here
- Download the PDF Booklet, “New Local Plan Consultation July 2026 Key Topics” – click here
Windsor News from Councillors Carole and Wisdom Da Costa 