From: Ernest Amoako [mailto:Ernest.Amoako@woking.gov.

uk]
Sent: 05 February 2016 14:31
To: 'ben@americanmuir2.plus.com' <ben@americanmuir2.plus.com>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request
Dear Mr Paton
Thank you for your e-mail of 13 January 2016 regarding information on the West Surrey Strategic
Housing Market Assessment (SHMA). The West Surrey SHMA was commissioned by Guildford
Borough Council on behalf of Woking Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council. The three
authorities form a Housing Market Area. The contracts that you refer to in your request were entered
into by Guildford B.C. Consequently, I am unable to provide a copy of the document as we do not hold
a copy. To assist with your inquiry I have spoken to Guildford Borough Council and it is my
understanding that they will be able to provide a more positive response to your query.
The SHMA is a published document. The methodology and assumptions used for the study are
explained in the SHMA. The options that were tested are set out in the document. The SHMA can be
accessed by this link: http://www.woking.gov.uk/planning/policy/ldfresearch/shma/SHMA2015.
I hope that you are satisfied with the way in which your request for information has been dealt with. If
not, the Council has decided that any complaint regarding requests for information that cannot be
dealt with satisfactorily on an informal basis should be dealt with in accordance with its established
complaints procedure. Details of our complaints procedure may be found at:
http://www.woking.gov.uk/council/about/customercarestandards/comments . Alternatively, I can
forward you a paper copy of a leaflet giving details. I am also happy to discuss any queries that you
may have regarding how we have dealt with your request for information. In addition, you may apply
to the Information Commissioner for a decision whether your request for information has been dealt
with in accordance with the requirements of the Act (although I understand that the Information
Commissioner may decline to become involved if you have not first exhausted the Council's
complaints procedure). The Information Commissioner may be contacted at Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF; tel. 01625 545745; fax. 01625 524510; e-mail.
mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely
Ernest Amoako
Planning Policy Manager
Woking Borough Council