Fringe Box

Socialize

Twitter

Residents’ Association Challenges Developer’s Bid For 110 More Homes

Published on: 20 Jul, 2021
Updated on: 21 Jul, 2021

By Chris Dick

A residents’ association has circulated a newsletter to householders and businesses in Effingham urging those against yet more homes to object to an application for 110 homes to be added to an existing development scheme.

Following an appeal in 2018, the Secretary of State granted Berkeley Homes planning permission for 295 homes mostly on green belt land to enable the building of a 2,000-pupil school.

The cover of Effingham Residents’ Association’s latest newsletter urging people to object to Berkeley Homes’ plans.

However, the developer has now submitted plans for an additional 110 homes as it claims that, contrary to the original financial figures, there is insufficient funding to build the school.

On the cover of its latest newsletter, Effingham Residents’ Association writes: “WE SHOULD ALL OBJECT STRONGLY”.

It continues by saying: “Most will be on 5.73 ha (14.16 acres) of [green belt] land which includes ancient woodland not included in the original agreement.

“BH [Berkeley Homes] is also trying to change the original decision by the Secretary of State.

“The new application is to build 54 of the 110 homes including four apartment blocks on 1.06 ha (2.61 acres) that were designated for the school playing fields.

“BH says this is a ‘minor’ material change because a ‘major’ material change would require reapplying for the whole scheme to get the extra homes. We believe it is clearly a ‘major’ material change.”

The newsletter goes on to explain the background and where the developer had claimed that the rise in construction costs warranted the extra homes.

As the association puts it: “We believe the bigger rise in house prices will allow BH to make an even bigger profit.

“We also believe BH always intended to apply for extra homes but did not include them in the original application on the basis that they would not have been allowed in excess of 400 homes in a village of just over 1,000 homes in return for a new school.”

The association says that it is important to object separately to both planning applications as 21/P/01283 is vital to allow 21/P/01306 to be considered.

Readers wishing to comment for or against should note the closing date for comments is August 5, 2021.

Comments can be submitted via Guildford Borough Council’s website.

Or via email to Guildford Borough Council to: enquiries@guildford.gov.uk

Or by post to: Guildford Borough Council Planning Department, For the attention of John Busher, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB

Click here to read Effingham Residents’ Association’s newsletter.

When asked, Berkeley Homes declined to comment.

Share This Post

Responses to Residents’ Association Challenges Developer’s Bid For 110 More Homes

  1. Valerie Thompson Reply

    July 21, 2021 at 10:47 am

    Best of luck. Look what happened to the application for Manor Farm in West Horsley – 181 objections, six letters of approval, and the development was granted planning permission.

  2. Jules Cranwell Reply

    July 21, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    Of course, GBC will allow this, as the officers are frit of developers, and certain councillors are too cosy with developers.

    GBC is an absolute scandal, and do not work for residents, particularly those in the rural villages.

  3. Heléna Lawrence Reply

    July 21, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    Saturday July 24, 11.30am, Lower Road entrance to the site KT23.

    PR rally to show the amount of local objections to the proposals.

    Please email: nomorehomes@outlook.com to let me know if you intend to come.

  4. David J King Reply

    July 23, 2021 at 7:56 pm

    As Berkeley Homes have declined to comment, I conclude that they consider the content of EFFRA’s Newsletter to be wholly accurate.

Leave a Comment

Please see our comments policy. All comments are moderated and may take time to appear.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *