‘Urban Housing Estate at Heart of a Surrey Village’ Approved

Published on: 9 Sep, 2022
Updated on: 12 Sep, 2022

An artist’s impression of the East Horsley development. Image: Taylor Wimpey

By Emily Coady-Stemp

local democracy reporter

A development of 110 homes branded an “urban housing estate at heart of a Surrey village” has been given the go ahead.

The East Horsley site in Ockham Road North, between a railway line and ancient woodland, was approved despite being described by one councillor as a “colossal parking lot”.

Guildford Borough Council’s planning committee approved the Taylor Wimpey application by 11 votes to three.

The site had already been given outline planning permission in 2019, so the meeting on Wednesday (September 7) was to approve the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of Lollesworth Fields.

East Horsley Parish Councillor Steve Punshon spoke to object to plans at the meeting.

He said the design was “identical” to many other developments in towns and cities across the country.

Cllr Punshon said: “Fundamentally, what Taylor Wimpey have proposed is an urban housing estate at the heart of a traditional Surrey village.”

He called on councillors to reject the plans for a development which better reflected the style, appearance and feel of the local community.

The housing will be a mix of apartments, houses, bungalows and self-build plots with a total of 44 affordable homes, some affordable rent and some shared ownership.

There will also be an office building on the site and 207 car parking spaces.

The meeting heard that the developer had worked with the council in an “extensive and collaborative approach” over a two year period.

Steven Brown, representing Taylor Wimpey, said it was a “a sustainable, sensitively-designed and high-quality development”.

A condition was added regarding fencing at the back of the development, because of fears raised over the impact of people, dogs and cats disturbing the ecosystem of the ancient woodland there.

Cllr Angela Gunning (Labour, Stoke) raised concerns about 200 cars on the site, saying she felt “pretty uncomfortable” about it.

Because the site was allocated for around 100 homes in the borough council’s local plan, she said she knew she would be told there wasn’t anything to be done about the number of houses there.

She added: “I can see it being the most colossal parking lot.”

Officers said parking spaces were spread throughout the site but there was “always a balance” to be struck in terms of parking spaces on new developments, with concerns often being raised about not enough parking being provided.

Section 106 agreements had been made regarding the development, for funding to the surrounding community to help with the impact of the new homes.

These included: Education contributions towards Dawney School, Send CofE Primary School, St Andrews Secondary School and £250,000 towards bus service and commuter links, £50,000 towards upgrading bus stops and £100,000 towards improvements at East Horsley train station.

Responses to ‘Urban Housing Estate at Heart of a Surrey Village’ Approved

Jules Cranwell Reply

September 10, 2022 at 5:52 am

Good luck to anyone moving to this estate. Currently, it’s a swamp for six months each year.

This is the most disgusting treatment of the residents of the Horsleys.
Keith Francis Reply

September 16, 2022 at 10:26 am

Ah, but…

Horsley’s residents have, according to the Parish Council’s website, two railway stations, Horsley and Effingham Junction, but how many from their village use the latter one as they can get to the same destinations by train from Horsley? Installing a new footbridge and two lifts would it is estimated cost £2,500,000.

The “Schematic” for Effingham Junction is incorrect as the steps down to access the “Existing level access ramp to Guildford” are omitted as I found out when I was unexpectedly at that station on the 8 September 2022 due to trains to Guildford being stopped by a landslip.

The Wisley Garden Estate protestors should note the “Section 106 funding” from this lesser Taylor Woodrow scheme, including the “£250,000 towards bus and commuter links” and “£50,000 towards upgrading bus stops”. But how many from Horsley village actually use the buses as lack of public transport, buses, is one of its continuing major objections? It’s more likely that they jump in their car and go to the Merrow Park & Ride to get to Guildford.

Mole Valley District Council received £25,000 for bus stop improvements in the Bookham area from a new estate’s planning application but they’re invisible and no one including Surrey County Council as the Transport Authority can trace what happened to it. Only the other year did Fetcham receive a pair of new bus shelters when it only needed one.
Helena Townsend Reply

September 18, 2022 at 10:53 am

If it’s a swamp for six months of the year surely it won’t be missed?

I don’t understand what the issue is other than it’s an inferior developer to the one under construction in Effingham. The Howard site will be more attractive.
- Jules Cranwell Reply
  
  September 20, 2022 at 1:17 pm
  
  This land is a natural buffer, which separates the villages of East and West Horsley. This will turn the Horsleys into a single conurbation. The development is uneeded, and out of all proportion to the character of the Horsleys.