At the Planning Applications Committee of Surrey Heath Borough Council held this evening (Thursday 1st June), several major applications came become the committee.
Application No. 22/1182/FFU - Lawrence Lodge, Old Dean Road, Camberley, GU15 4JY
This application was for the demolition of Lawrence Lodge, an existing block of flats, to be replaced with 20 new dwellings, made up of 13 flats and 7 houses with associated parking and amenity space.
All 20 units for the proposed redevelopment would be affordable housing, with a 65% to 35% split between social rent and shared ownership.
The application, subject to the completion of a satisfactory legal agreement as laid out by the committee, was approved, as proposed by Cllr Shaun Garrett and seconded by Cllr Mary Glauert.
Voting in favour of the motion to approve: Councillors Betton, Garrett, Glauert, Kang, Noble, O’Mahoney, Tedder, Raikes, Wheeler, Whitcroft and Wilson
Voting against the motion to approve: Councillor White
Abstaining: Councillor Rowlands
Application No. 23/0328/PCM - former Lakeside School Playing Field, Caroline Way, Frimley, GU16 8LL
This application related to the erection of a part single and part three-storey building to provide extra care accommodation in self-contained apartments, with associated staff and communal spaces and car parking. Access to the site would be from Caroline Way.
This site was formerly a school playing field, listed as a defined Green Space within Frimley.
Due to the size and bulk of the proposed development, the committee expressed concern that the development was out of character with the surrounding area. Similarly, there was concern over the environmental impact, due to the less of green space and potential impact on trees surrounding the development. With the developer only proposing 25 parking spaces for the site, this was deemed inadequate given the size of the building.
Due to the nature of the application, as stated in Regulation 3 Application under the terms of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations, 1992, Surrey County Council is the determining authority for this application, whilst SHBC is only a consultee.
The committee objected to this application, for the reasons aforementioned, as proposed by Cllr Victoria Wheeler and seconded by Cllr Valerie White.
Application No. 23/0326/PCM - 141 Park Road, Camberley, GU15 2LL
This application was an outline application for the erection of a part 1, 2, 3 and 4-storey building to provide extra care accommodation comprising of 60 self-contained apartments, with staff and communal spaces for affordable rent with associated car parking and a new access onto Park Street.
The committee expressed concern over the height and scale of the proposed development, which considered to be out of scale and incongruous with the surrounding neighbourhood. The potential impact the development would have on trees on the plot was noted as a concern.
Due to the nature of the application, as stated in Regulation 3 Application under the terms of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations, 1992, Surrey County Council is the determining authority for this application, whilst SHBC is only a consultee.
The committee objected to this application, as proposed by Cllr Victoria Wheeler and seconded by Cllr Valerie White.
Application No. 22/0958/FFU - 61 London Road, Camberley, GU15 3UG
It had been noted that this application had been withdrawn by the applicant, and that the committee would therefore not consider this application.
Application No. 21/0865/FFU - land South of Beldam Bridge Road, West End Woking, GU24 8DN
This application related to the building of five detached two-storey dwellings and garages with associated access, parking and landscaping, submitted by Redrow Homes Ltd.
Due to concerns over the infrastructure in West End village, traffic and highway safety grounds, West End Parish Cllr Graham Alleway had called this application in for the attention of the committee.
As part of the Council's public speaking scheme which had been triggered, Mr Ali Fazeli-Nia spoke in opposition to the application, and Ms Tilly Whishaw spoke in support of the application.
The committee noted that the application formed part of the village's Housing Reserve Site, with planning permission for the erection of three houses on the site having been previously approved. This application would result in the construction of two additional dwellings.
Concerns were raised about the potential presence of protected species on the site, and echoed the concerns raised by Cllr Alleway over highway safety in the vicinity of the proposed development. It was suggested that a site visit to view the highways situation might be an appropriate way forward at this juncture.
A motion to defer the application pending a site visit was proposed by Councillor Wheeler, seconded by Councillor Garrett, put to the vote and carried.
Voting in favour of the motion to defer: Councillors Betton, Garrett, Glauert, Kang, Noble, O’Mahoney, Rowlands, Raikes, Wheeler, Whitcroft and White.
Voting against the motion to defer: Councillor Wilson
Abstaining: Councillor Tedder
With the two planning applications for extra care accommodation, at the former Lakeside School Playing Field in Frimley and on 141 Park Road in Camberley, it was agreed that Cllr Whitcroft, in his capacity as Leader of the Council, would formally write to the Chairman of the County Council’s Planning Committee, and the County Councillors for the respective divisions, Cllr Paul Deach and Cllr Trefor Hogg.
