Letter: Blackheath Cottage – Guildford Planning Control Gone Mad

Published on: 7 Apr, 2017
Updated on: 7 Apr, 2017

Blackheath Cottage – ordered to be demolished

From Harry Bow

I find the story of Blackheath Cottage very sad.

From looking at the two pictures it would seem as if the new house is very similar in shape to the old except for the large extension to the front/ side elevation.

As stated in the article, the house had “no harmful visual impact” and would not interfere with local views, why then could Guildford Borough Council not have negotiated a compromise rather than insist that someone’s dreams, achieved with blood, sweat and tears, be pulled down?

Shame on the planning department and shame on all those that overuse the expression “harmful by definition” to the green belt. I would go so far as to suggest that those in the village who objected have envy issues.

Why was it inappropriate? It looks like a vast improvement on the original and does not affect anyone. Not quite true – the builders would have benefitted greatly.

But the owners did not try to hide it behind hay bales. They should have been treated more fairly.

This is Guildford planning control gone mad.

Responses to Letter: Blackheath Cottage – Guildford Planning Control Gone Mad

Paul Robinson Reply

April 7, 2017 at 4:14 pm

It is the thin end of the wedge, these people get away with not building what was advertised and it sets a precedent for the another development somewhere else in the borough. Then that development pushes the boundaries a little bit more and so it continues.
Dave Middleton Reply

April 7, 2017 at 5:44 pm

I disagree. The original house was a substantial and attractive home.

The new building (and apparently very little of the original house remains), looks like an office building, not a family home.

The bottom line is that the owners appear to have completely disregarded the constraints of the planning consent they were given, ignored the advice or instructions of the planning enforcement department, pretty much doubled the size of the house and altered it’s appearance considerably.

What is the point of having planning rules if they are ignored and subsequently not enforced?

I hope that the council will be able to recover all its costs from the owners.
Frank Phillipson Reply

April 7, 2017 at 8:34 pm

The planning system is in place to protect town and country from inappropriate development.

The owners of this property could quite easily have visited the planning department and sought advice. Instead they chose to ignore the planning system and highhandedly do as they wished.