Residents' Association Forum

Take note of a new planning application for a significant re-development of the Hawkes Yard plot. This is application number 2012/2259. The council web-site lists all the relevant documents and plans. Checkout - http://www2.elmbridge.gov.uk/Planet/ispforms.asp?serviceKey=SysDoc-PlanetApplicationEnquiry 

This application is for the conversion of the first floor office into a flat, the erection of a new detached two storey house, a detached garage and a new footpath between the car park and the high street. This plot has been continuously developed over at least the last five years.

You must draw your own conclusions as to whether this proposed development is in the interests of the village.

The council require submissions by the end of August and if there are objections from more than 10 households then the application will be eligible for public speaking

The application number is  2012/2559

I don't have a great deal to add, but I would say that in the first case this should be refused for the same reason as 2012/0228, which was the previous application to convert the first floor of 27A to residential use.  Nothing has changed since then, so quite how this proposal should be treated in any different way beats me.

As for the other buildings, it does seem to be a case of overdevelopment on a small plot.

In addition, is it just me, or does the 'Gate House' 'residential unit' (I guess they can't call it a house or home, as it's neither) not have any amenity space whatsoever?

I think the principal reason for the over-development is to make the residential unit that the owner wants self-financing.

So in order to pay for the development of the new residential unit and garage another house is built on the plot. Once this house is sold the profit is likely to pay for the development costs of both the residential unit, garage and house.

Hence the end result for the owner should be a free residential unit and garage!

Many thanks for flagging this up, Ratty et. al. - I'm sure that this will be closely looked at and there will be objections.

The new residential appears to be a good mixed-use solution. The developer has bought new business into the village and is also I see proposing a pedestrian walkway to the car park.

The walkway is private but I see if he plans to provide communal access as a section 106 gesture then the proposed change of use may be overlooked by both the locals and planning office.

I am not sure such a large retail unit can thrive here as the Mehras seem to have cornered the market for essentials.

As I understand it communal access to the walkway is a given.

Would leave very little excuse for leaving the car park as underused as is now.