The Elmbridge Planning officer has rejected Planning application 2019/2523 which was to build 31 flats in the place of a single house at 30 Copsem Lane. This application was one of several completely disproportionate plans being proposed along this stretch of the A244. 56 local residents objected to the plans based on the dominant nature of the proposed building, the inadequate car parking provision and the pressure it would add to local traffic. Thankfully, common sense has prevailed.

The conclusion of the Planning Officers report is as follows:

114. The Council, as identified above, does not benefit from a 5-year housing land supply required by Section 5 of the Framework and therefore the tilted balance under para. 11 of the NPPF is engaged. It is therefore necessary to consider whether any adverse impacts of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in this Framework taken as a whole. Whilst the provision of 31 residential units would make a significant contribution to meeting the Borough’s identified housing need, it is considered that the identified harm in terms of the poor quality of living accommodation for future occupiers, the impact on neighbouring properties and the lack of a legal agreement to secure the affordable housing would conflict with local and national planning policy and significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits. As such it is recommended that the proposed development be refused for the following reasons:
115. The proposed development, by reason of the lack of a legal agreement to secure the agreed upon affordable housing contribution, would not make the required contribution towards the provision of affordable housing within the Borough. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to Policy CS21 of the Core Strategy, Development Contributions SPD 2012 and the revised NPPF 2019.
116. The proposed development would not provide an appropriate degree of amenity for future occupiers by reason of insufficient privacy and outlook for occupiers of the apartments orientated towards the other block and a lack of daylight for the single aspect north facing units. This would result in a poor quality of internal living accommodation for future occupies. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to policies DM2, DM5 and DM10 of the Development Management Plan 2015, the revised NPPF 2019 and the National Design Guide.
117. There would be a high probability that the proposed development, by reason of its internal layout and siting would result in significant pressure to remove the adjoining trees along the northern boundary which would then result in a material loss of privacy to the neighbouring property, No. 28 Copsem Lane. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to policy DM2 of the Development Management Plan 2015, the Design and Character SPD 2012, the revised NPPF 2019 and the National Design Guide.
118. The proposed development, by reason of its large and overly dominant front parking area and the subsequent large amount of hardstanding, would result in an overly dominant feature of the proposed development that would be out of keeping with the street scene and the character of the area. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to policy CS17 of the Core Strategy 2011, policy DM2 of the Development Management Plan 2015, the Design and Character SPD 2012 the revised NPPF 2019 and the National Design Guide.