The Committee considered an application at the land rear of 56-60 Epsom Lane North in Epsom Downs, Surrey, KT18 5PY for the demolition of 60 Epsom Lane North and the erection of 6 semi-detached properties to the rear of 56-60 Epsom Lane North together with access and parking.
Mr Murray Ross, the agent on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support of the application on the grounds that the design, scale and layout of the proposed development was consistent with similar developments in the local area and was considered to have a limited impact to the character of the local area; and, the amenity of local residents in respect of the Local Distinctiveness Design guide SPG by virtue of its rear garden location and proposed landscaping.
Mr Peter Devos, a local resident, spoke in objection to the application on the grounds that the visibility splays and location of the access road to the proposed development did not meet the criteria within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and was therefore prejudicial to highways safety.
RESOLVED that planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:
1. The proposal, by virtue of restricted and uncharacteristically tight plot sizes, roof design, prevalence of hard landscaping and lack of meaningful landscaping opportunity, would be an incongruous, and cramped form of development out of keeping with and harmful to the character and appearance of the locality and contrary to policies Ho9, Ho13 and Ho14 of the Reigate and Banstead Borough Local Plan 2005 and guidance contained within the Local Distinctiveness Design guide SPG.
2. The proposed development, by virtue of the close proximity of plots three, four, five and six, and 54 Epsom Lane North, would give rise to a high degree of overlooking to the rear garden which would represent a harmful loss of privacy to the occupants of 54 Epsom Lane North contrary to policies Ho9, Ho13 and Ho14 of the Reigate and Banstead Borough Local Plan 2005.
3. The proposed development, in the absence of a legal agreement to provide a contribution of 6000 pounds towards the provision of Vehicle Activated Speed Signs in the vicinity of the application site, could lead to conditions prejudicial to highway safety, which would be contrary to the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework, policy Mo5 of the Reigate and Banstead Borough Local Plan 2005 and objective 3 of the Surrey Transport Plan 2011-2026 'To improve road safety and the security of the travelling public in Surrey'.