Controversial Planning Decision for 400 New Houses Deferred

Published on: 4 Sep, 2013
Updated on: 5 Sep, 2013

One of the fields that would make up the area on which 400 houses will be built if the scheme is approved

A decision on a controversial planning application for 400 new homes on a green field site in Ash, expected to be taken at last night’s (September 3) council planning meeting, has been unexpectedly referred to the full council.

The delay follows concerns expressed by some councillors that the local community was being short changed.

The plan to be considered by Guildford Borough Council. Outlined area is where the 400 houses would go and the shaded area would cease being agricultural and be landscaped for amenity use

Cllr Paul Spooner (Con, Ash South & Tongham) has secured a three- week delay to key planning decision on controversial proposals for the major development on open countryside between Ash and Tongham.

The old railway line route the bisects the development area.

The planning application will now be determined at a meeting of the whole council at the Millmead council offices on Tuesday, September 24.

Explaining his reasons for referring the planning matter to the full council, Cllr Spooner said: “Local councillors are very disappointed that such a major and controversial planning application was subject to a planning committee report being published the day before the August bank holiday weekend, for a committee meeting in the first few days of September.

This is not fair for local people and councillors immediately sought to secure a delay to the decision making.”

He continued: “Given the level of local interest and the 650 objections, it is vital to ensure the application is heard when local people are aware of the meeting and they have had time to consider and respond to the 70 page report from the planning officers.”

A field in the area that will redesignated from agricultural land to ‘Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace’

The application and the associated arrangements and contributions had been under discussion for nearly two years. Details were all thought to have been thrashed out with the developer and confirmed with local councillors at a meeting on July 24. Local councillors are now very unhappy that within weeks of the meeting council officers allowed the withdrawal of previously agreed sums of community ‘planning gain’.

The planning gain contributions were to provide off-site improvements to facilities at Tongham recreation ground and the Harpers Road recreation ground in Ash.

Conservative councillor Nick Sutcliffe (Ash South & Tongham) said: “The loss of half a million pounds of planning gain at the last minute for new community facilities at the two local recreation grounds is disappointing and a snub to local people.”

Cllr Zoe Franklin, (Lib Dem, Stoke) said: “The Lib Dem group were unaware of any changes to the agreed sums of planning gain and look forward to hearing the facts in the debate at the full council.”