Planning Review (Oct 2010)
CLANDON PARK GOLF COURSE
The first phase (holes 1 to 9) was opened on 1st May, and the second phase (holes 10 to 18) is planned to open next Spring, subject to weather conditions. A portakabin is being used as a temporary clubhouse, but is it intended to replace this with a permanent building in due course. It is also intended to create a pitch & putt course and a putting green on the small field adjacent to LA Fitness as a further project. Sadly, sporadic vandalism is still occurring to the wooden fence running alongside the third hole and backing onto houses in Trodds Lane. The public are requested to report any suspicious activities to the Police.
SHOPS & FLATS AT “MERROW HEIGHTS” EPSOM ROAD
10 of the 11 flats have now been sold plus possibly one of the retail outlets. The remaining 2 shops are apparently under negotiation.
Woking Hospice charity shop has taken over the premises which were previously leased to the wine shop.
HUNTERS MOON – 3 THE PADDOCK
An outline planning application for a detached dwelling on either side of Hunter’s Moon was rejected by the Planning Committee on 21st April . Subsequently an application was submitted for a single 3 bed detached dwelling to the north of Hunter’s Moon. This was recommended for approval by the planning officers and considered by the planning committee on 29th June.
However, at the behest of two Merrow Councillors, it was deferred for determination by the Council and not the planning committee. The Planning Committee voted by 12 votes to 2 to recommend that the Council refuse the proposal. The application never reached Council since an appeal was submitted on the basis of the failure of the Council to determine the planning application within the required period. The Planning Inspectorate has decided to conduct the appeal by written representations and a decision could be made around the end of October/November. MRA has objected to the appeal and recommended that the planning application should be refused.
2 TANSY CLOSE – MERROW PARK
A retrospective application for erection of a wooden fence (1.8m high) on the existing boundary of the rear garden directly adjacent to the footway of Baldwin Crescent. MRA did not object to this proposal but considered that visual amenity could be considerably improved by planting along the line of fencing on the inside. A number of other properties had made similar treatments along the border of their gardens. Approval was granted.
TRETOWER HOUSE , MERROW STREET – LAVENDER GARDENS
Construction of 13 houses in the rear garden of Tretower House was granted on appeal and the development by Martin Grant Homes is now well under way with completion expected in 2011. Now named Lavender Gardens, it is within Merrow Park and accessed via Kingfisher Drive, Chatfield Drive, Stonecrop Road and Clayhanger.
S.C.C. MERROW DEPOT – MERROW LANE
In June GBC issued an enforcement notice on SCC and on Countryliner to stop using Merrow Depot as an overnight coach and bus park without planning permission. The latter then appealed against it. The appeal procedure is now under way and will be conducted by written representations.
BOXGROVE GARDENS – EPSOM ROAD (OLD DEFRA SITE)
Construction of Phase One is making good progress. Two further planning applications were submitted in June. The first was for the (retrospective) installation of solar panels on plots 93-102 and the second for modified elevations to block 5 to provide rooms in the roof with roof lights only on the rear elevations.
A useful site meeting to update MRA and other neighbouring residents’ associations was held on 14th September.
CLAVADEL NURSING HOME – 1 PIT FARM ROAD
Planning consent for demolition of the hotel on this site and construction of a nursing home has now been granted and is due to commence before the end of the year.
1 DOWNSWAY – TRODDS LANE
Application for a major single storey extension plus a second access onto Downsway. MRA made a number of observations but did not object to the application. Concern was raised over proximity of the proposed additional access being too close to Trodds Lane with poor sight lines. Approval was granted in July.
HORSE & GROOM – EPSOM ROAD
Mitchells & Butler, the owners of the Horse & Groom, have applied for listed building consent to transform it from a ‘pub’ to an upmarket restaurant with bar facilities. This forms part of a wider redevelopment plan affecting over 100 of their outlets throughout the country. It is also designed to appeal to a more a mature clientele and will hopefully avoid the recent behaviour problems with local youths.
Consent was granted in early September and the building will be closed for 6 weeks in October/November for the upgrade.
HAZEL LODGE – MERROW STREET
An application was made to erect a fence around an area of open grassed land which adjoins Hazel Lodge, at the junction of Merrow Street and Kingfisher Drive, near Merrow Park Surgery, and incorporate it into the garden of Hazel Lodge. There is a hornbeam tree on the land which commemorates the Millennium that was donated by the Merrow Horticultural Society and planted by the Mayoress of Guildford.
When Merrow Park estate was first laid out numerous small pieces of undeveloped amenity land and open plan frontages were included to help provide a pleasant, open character to what would otherwise have been an unbroken street scene. MRA objected to the loss of this open space as these green areas characterise the area and benefit the residents. The application was subsequently withdrawn.
This application highlighted a wider issue - that publicly accessible open spaces have in the past been enclosed and incorporated within the boundary of an adjoining private property. This can arise for a number of reasons, including an indifferent owner or the lack of covenants to prevent the land from being fenced in, and these small open spaces are then lost to the public.
MRA are concerned that this could change the character of a neighbourhood and we have had discussion with GBC to ensure that planning consent will not be granted to allow undeveloped amenity land to be privately enclosed. Areas of open land exist all over Merrow Park and Bushy Hill estates and a positive approach will be taken by GBC to protect such green spaces.
MRA
regularly monitors planning applications in Merrow and will
offer comments or objections to GBC when overall issues of
inappropriate development, density or design are involved
within the context of the Local Plan and new Design Guide.
Individual
residents are free to comment on applications, either because
they are immediately affected or generally as a ratepayer,
and details of new applications are published weekly in/ Surrey
Advertiser. Ten letters of objection are required to ensure
an application has to go
before the Planning Committee.
We
draw your attention to a new on-line service which has recently
been introduced by GBC through their website - applications
and plans can be viewed and downloaded electronically. To
reach GBC website go to www.guildford.gov.uk
-
from Home page select "P" from the A-Z of Services
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from next page select "Planning Helpdesk"
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click on "Online Planning Application Search".
You
can also telephone Planning Office on 01483 444609 or email:
planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk
or go in person to Millmead offices
for the traditional method of examining planning files which
are open to
members of the public on request. |
