LAST CHANCE TO COMMENT ON DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS IN THE BOROUGH
At the Full Council Meeting on October 18th, Woking Borough Council published its latest Draft Site Allocations Development Plan (DPD) and announced a new round of public consultation (Regulation 19).
This important consultation started 9am on Monday 5 November 2018 and runs until 5pm on Monday 17 December 2018.
Woking Council Press Release:
The Council has published its Site Allocations DPD and its accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Report, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Proposals Map for Regulation 19 consultation, also known as the pre-submission or publication consultation. This offers a final opportunity to submit representations before the Publication version of the DPD and supporting documents are submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination….
Read more at :
https://www.woking.gov.uk/news?item=00005BC9FCC9.A20DBC27.00007895.0004
http://www.woking2027.info/allocations
or below as it affects the three villages.
A) WHAT IS THE DPD?
The main purpose of the DPD is to identify potential urban and Green Belt sites and allocate specific sites for future development needed for future housing, traveller sites, employment and infrastructure needs within Woking Borough.
The DPD will facilitate the delivery of the Woking Core Strategy (2012) to the year 2027 which makes provision for the delivery of:
- 4,964 additional dwellings
- 93,900 sq. m of retail floor space
- 28,000 sq. m of office floor space
- 20,000 sq. m of warehouse floor space.
The Site Allocations DPD takes a long term strategic view of the future (period 2012 to 2027) and safeguards land for residential development beyond the Plan period (between 2027 and 2040). It releases 1.93% of the total Green Belt in Woking, with the majority of future development sites are located within Woking Town Centre.
B) WHAT IS REG 19?
The Regulation 19 consultation is the final opportunity for anyone to comment on the Site Allocations DPD before it is submitted to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will appoint a Planning Inspector who will review the document and is likely to arrange public meetings.
Woking Borough Council says, that representations made at this stage of the process should relate to one of the tests of soundness. To be sound the Site Allocation DPD should be positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy. The tests are in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework (July 2018). (See Appendix 4 below). All comments received will be summarised by Woking Borough Council and passed onto the Secretary of State.
The next round of Regulation 19 public consultation started on 5th November 2018 for 6 weeks to 5pm 17th December 2018.
Woking Borough Council have supplied a guidance note which goes into more detail and is available at http://www.woking2027.info/allocations/sadpdconsguidance
C) WHAT HAS HAPPENED?
There was a Reg 18 consultation in June/July 2015 of the previous Draft DPD, followed by a Martyrs Lane consultation in January/February 2017. All those comments were reviewed by Woking Borough Council but are no longer appropriate and are effectively “time expired”.
Even if you have made representations during Reg 18, you must make representations now if you wish to have the right to speak to the inspector and make your case at the examination.
D) WHAT ARE THE KEY CHANGES?
The document covers all of Woking Borough but this section will concentrate on impacts across the three villages Byfleet, West Byfleet & Pyrford within the Residents Association area.
The key points to note are:-
- Development site proposals for use up until 2027 remain unchanged. (See lists in Appendices 1 & 2 below)
- Safeguarded sites to remain in Greenbelt
- Land West of Upshot Lane and to the rear of 79-95 Lovelace Drive (GB12 Reg 18)
- Land East of Upshot Lane & South of Aviary Road (GB13 Reg 18)
- Safeguarded sites to be withdrawn from Green Belt:
- Land to the south of Parvis Road, Byfleet (GB4 Reg 18 & 19)
- Land to the south of Rectory Lane, Byfleet (GB5 Reg 18 & 19)
N.B. These two sites are for dwellings and “could also include a Gypsy and Traveller site.”
- Sites to be removed from Green Belt
- West Byfleet Infant & Junior School including playing fields (GB21 Reg 19)
- Traveller accommodation proposals:
- Temporary planning permission at Murrays Lane should be made permanent
- 15 pitches be set aside at West Hall, West Byfleet
- The Martyrs Lane site is excluded from all development proposals.
- Site in West Byfleet identified as land for Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) to remain in Green Belt. (See Appendix 3 below)
E) WHAT NEXT?
1) Location of documents
The Site Allocations DPD and its supporting Sustainability Appraisal Report, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Proposals Map are available for inspection at the following venues:
- Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, GU21 6YL.
Monday to Friday 9am – 4.45pm
- Woking, Byfleet, West Byfleet and Knaphill libraries. Please see www.surreycc.gov.uk for addresses and opening times of the libraries.
- On the Council’s website www.woking2027.info/allocations
2) Drop-in Sessions
Woking Borough Council will be holding drop-in sessions where you can come and discuss the proposals in more detail with the Planning Policy Team. These will be held on:
- Wednesday 21 November at HG Wells Conference and Events Centre, Church Street East, Woking GU21 6HJ, from 5.30 – 7.30pm;
- Monday 26 November at Woking Borough Council Civic Offices (address as above) from 1 – 4.45pm.
The RA will be arranging public meetings. Details will be announced soon.
3) Your Feedback
Representations may be accompanied by a request to be notified at a specified address of any of the following:
- that the Site Allocations DPD has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination;
- the publication of the recommendations of any person appointed to carry out an Independent Examination of the DPD; and
- the adoption of the DPD.
The representation form provided by the Council allows you to indicate whether you wish to be informed when the DPD progresses to the next stages. If you do not use the form, please remember to specify whether you would like to be notified and provide your contact details.
Representations can be emailed to planning.policy@woking.gov.uk or posted to:
The Planning Policy Team
Woking Borough Council
Civic Offices
Gloucester Square, Woking
Surrey GU21 6YL
The full letter sent to registered residents is in Appendix 5.
Appendix 1 – Non Green Belt Sites
Appendix 2 – Development and infrastructure sites within the existing Green Belt
Appendix 3 – Land for SANG/open space use within the Green Belt
Appendix 4 – Tests of Soundness NPPF July 2018
Appendix 5 – Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) – Regulation 19 Consultation
Sheila Carroll says
Should we be concerned by the plan to withdraw West Byfleet Infant ana Junior Schools from the green belt?
The document indicates that, at least in the short term, the land is to be used as public amenity space… however, I’m not sure how public school playing fields should be – and I don’t see why the land would have to be removed from the Green Belt to become a SANG.
The more cynical amongst us might think it is to pave the way for future development/ reduce playing fields which are so important.
Or have I misunderstood?
(The purpose of SANG is to attract informal recreation users, such as walkers and dog walkers away from Special Protection Area (SPA). SANGs to provide alternative open spaces for use by future occupants of development and existing residents to avoid the potential harm caused by more visitors to the SPA. SANG land can be new open space, or the improvement of existing open space to increase its capacity for informal recreation.)
Andrew Grimshaw says
Sheila,
The reasoning behind WBC proposal to remove the Playing fields from Green Belt is that once Broad Oaks is removed from Greenbelt the playing fields would become a Green Belt island, which it seems is contrary to National Green Belt policies.
In the SADPD the playing fields are to be allocated Open Space.
The West Byfleet Neighbourhood Plan under policy OS1 designates them as Local Green Space and in
Policy OS1 says:-
“The development of Local Green Space will not be permitted other than in very special circumstance”
The WBNF plan has the equal planning status as the Woking Core Plan.
So, whilst in planning terms this is not as strong as Green Belt, it is very close being the next level below, as planning applications still need to justify “very special circumstances”.
Andy Grimshaw
RA Planning Co-ordinator
Steven Barker says
No mention of GB10 West Hall .development 555 homes .
Andrew Grimshaw says
Steven,
Thanks for your comment.
The mote was a summary of the differences between Reg18 and Reg 19 proposals.
West Hall was in Reg 18.
It is listed in the Appendices but as GB13 (using Reg 18 reference)
Regards,
Andy Grimshaw
RA Planning Co-ordinator
Dave Orledge says
Dear Sir,
Thank you for facilitating the public meeting that was held at St John’s Church on 3rd December… I found it very helpful. Based on the discussions at the meeting and having read some of the information published by the council, I have two points that I wonder if you could help me with:
1. I am very concerned about the impact of additional traffic on the A245 and connecting roads. As anyone who uses the A245 will know, it is very heavily congested each weekday morning and evening and very busy at most other times of day. With the proposed addition of more than 900 new homes in the West Byfleet/Byfleet area (including Broadoaks, and the proposed West Hall development) as part of the DPD (published by Woking Borough Council October 18th), it seems likely that the additional traffic volumes could lead to complete gridlock in the area. Surely this is not good for residents, local services or for business, not to mention the potential impact on air quality in the area. I’ve read the council document that describes the modeling that’s been done, along with the potential mitigation measures. However, based on my own experience of commuting on this road regularly, I am unconvinced that the current conditions have been fully understood.
2. I’m not clear on the reason why it is necessary to include additional Traveller Pitches in the plan DPD. Is this a Woking Council alone, or is it the result of County or central government guidelines?
Could the RA comment on these two points and, if possible, provide some guidance on how best to object to the plan please?
Many thanks
Anthony spalding says
I’m very unhappy as to the prospects of our local green belt areas downgraded and the changes proposed, “Removal of green belt areas in Byfleet” . I’m now finding out the council planning to covert the temporary traveller pitch at Murray’s to become permanent.. This was mentioned at the time of planning consultation this is a “Temporary planning application”. Now again i’m finding out the council are planning to go ahead against the residents wishes to change this to permanent. It was very clear at the time that the majority of residents strongly feel towards protecting these areas for their children future and next generation to enjoy.
This area cannot sustain this type of growth in this village….
R mac says
Is there a single place/map to see all proposed developments currently underway/approved/under approval in west byfleet?
Harry says
Where can we contest the entire West Hall development site and intended traveler pitches.
I wish to reject the development which will cripple the roads, and schools in west byfleet to unsustainable levels.
Why has the council not written to all local residents to inform them of this?
Please send a link on where we can challenge and reject these proposals.
The recent developmeent let to grid lock and tailback to the M25 let alone the A3.
This going alongside the Sheer house development will cripple the village. You would need to build another 3 schools just to cope with the inlfux!!