A Joint Statement from your Local Ward Councillors – 3rd February 2020
The lack of progress with the development work at the Sheer House site is extremely disappointing. This, along with the gradual deterioration of the buildings, is a source of mounting concern to residents, our community groups, and of course us, your local ward Councillors.
Outline Planning Permission was granted in December 2017 to Altitude to develop the complex that is owned by Prime Finance. Since then, no Detailed Planning Application has been submitted. Altitude have offered the following two main reasons for these delays:-
“Vacant Possession – the owner has tried over many months to reach agreement with several tenants to vacate the premises prior to their lease expiry. We have been successful in all negotiations except for two. Despite offer for compensation, these tenants have chosen to stay through to lease expiry. As a result, the earliest Vacant Possession will most likely be August 2020, and, therefore, it is unlikely that demolition will start before Quarter 4, 2020.”
“Brexit – sadly this is beyond our control. The cloud of uncertainty is not conducive to making major investment decisions relating to a multi-million £ development. The level of uncertainty makes it very difficult to plan definitively for the future as we have no assurance of foreseeable market conditions. Until such time the situation has some resolution in sight, the pace of progress of the development will be at a cautious speed. As you are aware, this is a UK business-wide problem and not just an issue for West Byfleet.”
Since we received this statement on 12th November 2019 our departure from the EU has been confirmed, so we hope the issue of investment can be speedily resolved.
We would like to remind residents that Woking Borough Council is in no way responsible for the lack of progress, nor does it have any legal authority to force the pace of development; this is a privately owned site.
We are regularly approached by residents who are understandably concerned with the potential loss of amenity, the Library, Boots the Chemist, and the Post Office prior to and during the construction phases of development.
On June 17th 2017 Turley UK issued a Statement of Intent on behalf of their client, Prime Finance (West Byfleet), in which they set out a number of potential options for relocation of key services as mentioned above. The statement was submitted as part of the Outline Planning submission documents at the Planning Meeting in September 2017. The Planning Committee asked that a clause be added as a condition to reflect the overall intent. The Decision Notice to Grant Outline Planning Permission (PLAN/2017/0128) contains this clause under condition 32. (It is suggested in Turley’s report that the PO, Boots, and the Library could operate from Mobile facilities during demolition/construction); Prime Finance/Altitude continue to be engaged with existing tenants to assist with relocation elsewhere in West Byfleet.
Currently, the most pressing issue is the Post Office.
We have been informed that the Post Office will close at the end of March 2020 having decided not to agree to a ‘rolling’ short term lease extension; the Londis Store is expected to remain open for business until April/May 2020. At this time no suitable alternative premises have been identified. The West Byfleet Business Association wrote to Altitude on January 8th 2020 asking them to share any plans or thoughts particularly on this issue. Woking Borough Council wrote to Councillors on 29th January 2020, having received a communication from Altitude advising that the Post Office franchisee has already put in motion the ending of his Post Office licence and served notice on his staff. The Post Office Ltd (the umbrella UK Company) is advertising for a new franchisee/location in West Byfleet.
The West Byfleet Business Association is also actively exploring all opportunities to help retain these essential services in the Village, however there are few, if any, available vacant premises.
We understand that Boots HQ are actively considering what options are available or may become available to relocate within West Byfleet; we assume that the Library service will continue until nearer the project commencement.
We will all continue to work together and with our community groups to ensure the best outcomes for West Byfleet Residents and Businesses. We very much share your concerns and anxieties.
Your Local Ward Councillors:
Gary Elson, Amanda Boote, Graham Chrystie, John Bond, Mary Bridgeman and Rashid Mohammed
jayne Jakubait says
I amongst many West Byfleet residents think its a disgrace how this has been able to happen, the town is like a ghost town, run down, just awful. What support have the shops that are left given I wonder? nothing to what I have heard. I walk through the subway most mornings as I also work in West Byfleet again an utter disgrace, filthy & smelly, when I walk back from work back through the subway and across the green the bench there seems to be a place for young people to meet, not that I have a problem with young people, but this group seem to take up the foot path with bikes thrown to the floor , yesterday cigarette papers thrown to the ground no respect for anyone or anything. Where as West Byfleet as a lovely village to live in, its not anymore just so sad. I also wonder when the new houses are built in the parvis road where are these families going to go i.e Schools? Doctors? Chemists? It would be nice to hear from Wbc to see what effort they are putting in to support West Byfleet I see no money being spent there from our council tax. I look forward to your response.
Kay Pyke says
I’m so in agreement. Let’s come together and see what we can do as a community.
Christine McGuffie says
Those who live in Dartnell Park are wondering about calming the extra traffic. At the moment turning right onto Parvis Road means taking your life in your hands at times. Any chance of help there – a roundabout perhaps?
Stephanie says
I feel the same way like above , Its so difficult to get a doctor, as we are short supply and difficult to be seen in West Byfleet , .The doctor told me because there s too many people now that have come into , they are over stretched.
My aunty and Uncle, my cousins and my relatives are all having problems seeing someone I thought I was dying the way I felt no one came out to see me I couldnt get up from bed its a disgrace My aunty blood pressure went up to 200 felt everything spinning , she had to call ambulance because doctors was not available.
I think our Government should be doing more, I suppose they have alot to deal .
This is why we can’t have anymore housing and new flats it’s not working.
Our infrastructure needs to work to?
S.Hounsell says
Why did WBC not stipulate in the Outline Planning Permission a time period in which a Detailed Planning Application must be submitted by Altitude? How long will WBC wait before withdrawing the OPP?
Brian R says
Its a well known tactic by developers, they will soon apply for a higher density scheme as the current “economics” don’t make the scheme viable, by which time we will all be so desperate to see something better than a load of derelict buildings that it gets waved through by a careless and inconsiderate Woking council. This will put further pressure on our schools and infrastructure. Do you even have a plan Woking? Something needs to be done the village is being ruined.