Here are the latest local planning applications which potentially affect the wider community interest and which have been made to Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC).
We encourage residents to comment to EBC on any application they feel strongly about.
To see the details of any application, and/or make a comment, enter the Application Number into the search box by Clicking here
URGENT INFO ON PLANNING REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT US ALL
In a bid to raise living standards, the government recently introduced ‘minimum space standards’ for all new housing developments. These standards are set at 39 m2 for a one-bedroom flat, but this standard can be reduced to 37 m2 for a one-bedroom flat that has a shower room instead of a bathroom.
Local authorities are being encouraged to adopt these new standards in advance of the law, which comes into force in April 2021. A significant number of applications for sub-standard accommodation have already been submitted to Elmbridge in a bid to beat the April deadline.
Weybridge Society is urging Elmbridge Borough planners to respect the clear intention of the government to improve standards and to adopt these ‘minimum space’ guidelines in their decisions. We are informing our members and residents generally so that everyone can track what’s happening and make your opinions known to EBC planners.
QUEENS ROAD: Developments Pose Danger to New Standards
Most of the following applications for the redevelopment of Clive House, the defunct office building on Queens Road near Manby Lodge school, include sub-standard accommodation. The numbers given at the start of each entry guide you to the planning application on the Elmbridge website.
2020/3280 CLIVE HOUSE, 12 – 18 QUEENS ROAD. This application seeks to convert the offices into residential and is basically the same as an earlier application which was refused by EBC because it could not be demonstrated that adequate light could be provided in all habitable rooms.
To overcome that objection, the developer has reduced the number of flats in the basement from five to three. Measuring just 30 m2, all except one of the proposed 39 flats are well below the government’s ‘minimum space’ standard!
Weybridge Society has therefore objected to these sub-standard units, as well as the inadequate parking provision of 22 car parking spaces for the proposed 39 flats.
2020/3256 CLIVE HOUSE, 12 – 18 QUEENS ROAD. A similar application for 36 one bedroom 30 m2 flats has also been submitted to EBC. In this application the basement is designated as an amenity space.
The Society has also submitted a letter of objection to this proposal and considers that the applicant for the above three schemes should withdraw these applications and submit instead a full planning application for the building as a whole, which would then be considered by the EBC Planning Committee.
If any one of the above applications were permitted, the result would be the creation of either 45 or 48 sub-size flats with parking provision for only 29 vehicles. In our view, this would set a precedent for developers to shoe-horn too many sub-standard dwellings into existing buildings. Such an outcome would be seriously detrimental to the character of the local area, and in addition, would drastically increase traffic and parking problems.
85 QUEENS ROAD (CAFÉ ROUGE) and LAND TO THE REAR OF SITE, IN SOUTH ROAD: Applications for Flats without Parking
Following refusal by EBC, the following applications have now been taken to appeal. All three of them, 2020/0473, 1288 and 2020/0265, had been refused by EBC. The developer has now submitted two further schemes: 2020/3289 An additional storey in a modern design with a large balcony fronting Queens Road. 2020/3366 Sub-division of an existing flat to create two flats.
In addition, three new applications to develop the land to the rear of Café Rouge have been submitted. An earlier proposal for an office building there was already refused by EBC, and has now been taken to appeal (2020/2174).
These new applications 2020/3190, 2020/3188 and 2020/3213 are for various uses but all are accommodated in an identical detached two storey building with internal layout changes.
In each case, zero parking is provided! In fact, building on this land would result in the loss of the parking spaces which formerly served Café Rouge.
Weybridge Society is currently evaluating all these applications and will be submitting letters of objection in due course.
8 – 14 OATLANDS DRIVE: Applications for Massive Development at a Busy Junction
Two applications have been submitted for this site right at the edge of Walton Bridge, where single homes line Oatlands Drive to this busy junction.
2020/0691 is an application to demolish four bungalows (single homes) and replace with three blocks creating 51 flats. This was refused by EBC and has now been taken to appeal. The following amended scheme has recently been submitted.
2020/3223 This application is to demolish the four bungalows on Oatlands Drive and replace with four blocks providing 51 flats.
It is the Society’s view that such a scheme is a huge over-development of the land. These properties sit close to the very busy Walton Bridge junction with Oatlands Drive. The proposed buildings would dominate this part of Oatlands Drive, completely change the character of the area and drastically increase traffic jams.
2020/2971 LAND TO THE WEST OF 1 OATLANDS CLOSE, WEYBRIDGE
Multiple schemes have been submitted in the past to build on the garden of 1 Oatlands Close. All have been refused by EBC, decisions upheld by the Planning Inspector whenever a refused application was taken to appeal. This latest scheme proposes the construction of a three-storey building to create three flats on this ‘garden’ land. Apart from serious overlooking issues, the scheme is way forward of the established building line evident along the complete length of the north side of Oatlands Avenue. Weybridge Society has objected strongly to this unneighbourly application which would significantly change the character of the area.
MEN’S SHED – 2020/2493
Weybridge Society supported the application to provide a ‘Men’s Shed’ facility on the Churchfields Allotments and we are pleased to report that this project has recently been granted permission by EBC. Our Spring/Summer 2020 edition of the newsletter featured an article on the Men’s Shed project and we look forward to reporting further once work gets underway.
OATLANDS PARK HOTEL – 2020/1994
An ambitious scheme to provide a conference and spa facilities, as well as additional bedrooms, at the OPH has recently been granted consent. Although Weybridge Society objected in support of those neighbours whose homes border the site, our letter was mostly constructive in that it focused on solutions to overcome the local resident’s concerns. We are sure that once this scheme is completed, the OPH will become the hotel of choice for those visiting the area which in turn should bring benefits to the local community.