Latest applications made to Mole Valley District Council and decisions on earlier ones.
Sharing the listings dated 28 July plus committee decisions 2 August :
Just listed – expected to be in 4 August list :
- Running List 28/07/23 including
MO/2023/1013Erection of a single storey car parking deck and associated works.1, Springfield Drive, Leatherhead, https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/123968
MO/2023/1037Erection of 1 No. detached dwelling on previously developed land following demolition of existing groundskeeper storage and maintenance buildings, and associated landscaping, parking and access. Leatherhead Golf Club, Kingston Road, Leatherhead, https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/123987
MO/2023/0988Development comprising 46 No. dwellings with associated public open space, additLand north of Breakspear Farm, Horsham Road, Beare Green, Surrey https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/123909
Decisions List 28/07/23 : https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/home/building-planning/planning-applications/decisions-we-28-07-2023.pdf
Refused : MO/2023/0708 Prior notification for conversion of ground floor from Commercial/Business/ use to residential , 26 High Street, Leatherhead https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/123672
This was just for space at the front of the building facing the street, the rest of the ground floor has already been converted to apartments. It’s the first time we can recall MVDC using the limited powers it has left to refuse commercial to residential which is almost automatic.
Previous weeks
- Latest weekly list – registered (use show more results to view full list)
- Latest weekly list – determined
Register with MVDC for updates on planning applications near you
Or Search https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole
Residents Association information:
Ashtead https://www.ashteadresidents.org.uk/blog/post/14674/planning-applications-for-ashtead-this-week/
Fetcham https://www.fetchamresidents.co.uk/planning/
Bookham https://www.bookhamresidents.org.uk/planning-applications-in-bookham/#meetings
Leatherhead RA still comment on applications and can be contacted via website. At its May 2023 committee the Chairman repeated that she still intends to retire by October. LRA may be disbanded if new volunteers are not found.
APPEAL DECISION
Application No.:MO/2020/1934/PLA MAJOR
Link Appeal Allowed – Permission Granted
Location:Chace Farm Stud, The Warren, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2SH Proposal:Erection of an extra care facility (Use Class C2) comprising 10 self-contained units, office floorspace (Use Class E), parking, landscaping and associated works following demolition of existing buildings.
Development Management Committee – applications decided by councillors with recommendations from officers:
Item 1: MO/2022/2168 – Land rear of Opus 1, Ryebrook Business Park, Bay Tree Avenue, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7LA REFUSAL on motion from ward councillor Keira Vyvyan-Robinson supported by 8 votes to 7. Concern on incremental development of site after Opus 1 was developed and occupied. This proposal was 50 additional apartment homes in the current car park. Webcast and debate Link here
Item 2: MO/2023/0168 – Bechwood, Boxhill Road, Boxhill, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7JN
Item 3: MO/2022/2155 – 47, Harriotts Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2QG approved – Webcast Link here
Item 4: MO/2023/0324 – 69, Highlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8NW approved – webcast Link here
Item 5: MO/2023/0628 – 45, Dene Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2DW
Item 6: MO/2023/0698 – 1 Thistle Cottages, Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7PF (Parking access via Clements Mead) Single dwelling APPROVED after a series of earlier plans were refused as overdevelopment. Extension to No.1 already approved. Webcast Link here
Agendas for previous meetings
Useful links and information
The recommended way to keep informed of any applications that may affect you is to sign up to e-alerts
Only a relatively narrow group of very immediate neighbours are otherwise notified.
For some major applications the applicant will hold pre-application engagement with the community, often on a virtual basis under recent restrictions.
Comments on applications can be made by either attaching a file on the MVDC website or by an email to planning@molevalley.gov.uk giving your name, address/postcode and the application reference eg MO/2023/xxxx
Comments on social media, facebook etc are not valid and unlikely to be read by the Council or applicant, and hold no value in the process at all.
It is best to comment on issues that are ‘planning considerations’ eg. design, layout, height, density, scale of development, loss of amenity, privacy, trees etc. For larger scale applications issues around drainage, parking, EV charging, proportion of ‘affordable’ housing, cycle facilities, infrastructure contributions are the kind of comments likely to be given some weight in the decision.
Many applications are now ‘permitted development’ eg office and shop conversions to residential and will not normally be refused unless there are flaws or restrictions. The Government is increasingly deregulating aspects of the system to make it easier for housing to be created to meet its targets. Extra floors on buildings are increasingly easy to add. There are no rules on the number of types of business in a town centre, the street can be full of cafes or hairdressers if the landlords and business operators agree.
Currently MVDC is assessing new applications against its Local Plan 2000 and Core Strategy a few years later. But it is required to update this plan http://www.futuremolevalley.org and this may be adopted with Government approval during 2023. The draft Local Plan includes major brownfield redevelopment sites in Leatherhead town centre in MVDC ownership eg. Swan Centre, Bull Hill, Claire & James House which are subject to commercial arrangements between MVDC and development partners currently being concluded. MVDC is also required by Government to have a 5 year supply of approved applications for new housing. So applications can be difficult to refuse if they otherwise tick the boxes the Government has set.
https://www.latimerhomes.com/new-build-homes/surrey/leatherhead/kingston-mews Shared ownership in Leatherhead town centre under construction
Local councillors are available to be contacted if you have concerns about a planning application. 2023/4 one of the Leatherhead North councillors sits on the Development Management Committee which considers some of the more significant applications, and those that have significant objections. They can also consider bringing an application to the committee which would otherwise be decided by the expert planning officers. (Two other Leatherhead councillors are substitutes on the committee)
The councillors on the committee have to keep an open mind on an application until the committee has considered it. They must avoid being predetermined. But they can listen to views to help them make a decision.
Those councillors who are not on the committee can ask to speak at it and generally can take a more active view against or for an application at an earlier stage.
Councillors work on planning tends to be less political than other activities and they do not vote on party lines in the same way as other business, usually. It is not the case that the party forming the administration (currently Lib Dem) or the professional planning officers support the applications being listed, or promote them. They have to consider what landowners and developers put forward. In much the same way it is not straightforward for the council to make landowners use their land for new development if they don’t want to.
Leatherhead Living 