Agenda item

Erection of 70 dwellings with access from hooley lane, with associated landscaping and infrastructure. As amended on 06/07/2023 and on 25/07/2023. As amended on 14/08/2023, 10/10/2023, 11/10/2023, 23/10/2023, 08/11/2023, 22/11/2023 and 12/12/2023.

The Committee considered an application at the Former Gas Holders, Hooley Lane, Redhill for the erection of 70 dwellings with access from Hooley Lane, with associated landscaping and infrastructure. As amended on 06/07/2023 and on 25/07/2023. As amended on 14/08/2023, 10/10/2023, 11/10/2023, 23/10/2023, 08/11/2023, 22/11/2023 and 12/12/2023.

Some members of the Committee felt that development would significantly change the current street scene. There was concern this was an overdevelopment and very little green space. There was also concern regarding contamination.

Councillor Ritter, a visiting member, spoke on the application as the ward member, sharing some points that supported the application such as:

·       Meeting parking standards;

·       There were a number of affordable homes proposed;

·       Electric vehicle charging points;

·       Mature trees were to be maintained;

·       Walking and cycling route;

·       Air source heat pumps; and

·       A car club.

However, there was concern regarding the density of the development and that it did not reflect the surrounding area. There was concern regarding the amount of amenity space for future residents to enjoy. People were now working from home and there was concern regarding the amount of light residents would enjoy to the rear of the flats. There was also concern regarding the local road as it was already at maximum capacity for parking and often became gridlocked; there was concern for children’s safety going to the school. Buses also struggled to turn due to traffic and parked cars. A local speed watch group has monitored the level of traffic on St John’s Road and noted an increase from 280 cars between the hours of 8am and 10am to 550 cars at that time. It was requested that there be a reduction in the number of homes on the site.

Councillor Walsh, a visiting member, stated that he was concerned regarding the scale of the development. The topology of the site was important and the solution that had been achieved was something the Committee needed to consider as well as the use of a brownfield site. Pages 54 and 55 of the report showed significant tree shielding and the design made the upper floors grey to decrease the visual impact. Councillor Walsh felt that this was a good application.

A reason for refusal was proposed by Councillor Chandler and seconded by Councillor Chester, whereupon the Committee voted and RESOLVED that planning permission be REFUSED on the grounds that:

The proposal, by reason of the quantum of flatted units the scale and bulk of the blocks and their height and proximity to the boundary would result in a scheme which is of a high density and out of keeping with the lower rise nature of the residential accommodation in the surrounding area and a scheme which does not provide sufficient larger market homes (3 and 4+ units).  The proposed flatted blocks, which would be up to four storeys, would dominate the site, resulting in a scheme which is dominated by hardstanding (parking or footways) and which provides insufficient space for soft landscaping.  Therefore the proposal would result in an overly dense, incongruous and cramped overdevelopment of the site, out of keeping with and harmful to the character and appearance of the locality and which provides an inadequate mix of larger market homes.  This would be contrary to policies DES1, DES4 and DES5 of the Reigate and Banstead Development Management Plan 2019 and chapter 12 of the NPPF.