Mole Valley Local Plan final round of consultation until 23 April 2024

Latest for those engaged in the long saga of the Mole Valley Local Plan – which they are now directed by Ministers to get on and complete after a year’s pause. A 7 week consultation starts 1 March 2024 on material modifications that the Government Inspector has asked to be made following her 2022 examination in public.

The redevelopment of Bull Hill, Swan Centre and the riverside offices in Leatherhead are all included in this plan to meet housing delivery targets. The Green Belt sites at Ermyn Way, the small strip of land next to the cemetery along Randalls Road, the River Lane travellers site and the Preston Farm site in Bookham are the key ones in the north of Mole Valley that are staying in the plan now.

It’s really at the ‘planning anorak’ stage now and the Inspector will not revisit old issues.

But getting this process done and dusted by the summer and this consultation out of the way before the local election period is useful in having an up to date plan in place before the general election. After which any incoming Government- particularly a Labour one- could start to push housebuilding on a greater scale.

Below is the text of an email from MVDC Planning Policy to interested parties 29 February, to which we have added some links sourced from https://futuremolevalley.org/main-modifications-council-note-35-consultation/ :

As you have responded to Local Plan consultations previously or are on our Local Plan database, we are writing to you to request any additional comments you may have on the Main Modifications to the Draft Mole Valley Local Plan and associated documents.

What are Main Modifications?

Since February 2022, the Local Plan has been under examination by a Government-appointed Planning Inspector. The Inspector has recommended a number of Main (material) Modifications to the Draft Local Plan to make the plan sound and now it is necessary to consult on these modifications.

Are there any other types of Modifications?

Yes. There are four other lists of modifications:

1.    Changes to the Policies Map (General)

These are changes to the designations on the map, which accompanies the Draft Local Plan

2.    Changes to the Policies Map (Mineral and Waste Sites)

These are waste and mineral sites, decided by Surrey County Council, which the county council has asked to put on our map. As they are not Mole Valley’s designations, we cannot change them so this list is just for information only.

3.    Changes to the Sustainability Appraisal

These are changes to the document, which accompanied the Local Plan

4.    Additional Modifications

These are minor changes and mainly comprise typographical errors.

What is being consulted on?

All lists of modifications and Council’s Note 35 are under consultation. A Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan Main Modifications, a Habitats Regulations Assessment and an Equalities Impact Assessment on the Local Plan Main Modifications are also available for consultation.

• ED71: Council’s Note 35 – Implications of changes to National Planning Policy and Guidance on draft MVDC Local Plan
• ED74: Schedule of Main Modifications
• ED75: Sustainability Appraisal Update on Main Modifications
• ED76: Habitats Regulation Assessment on Main Modifications
• ED77: Equalities Impact Assessment on Main Modifications
• ED78A: Changes to the Policies Map (General)
• ED78B: Changes to the Policies Map (Minerals & Waste)
• ED79: Schedule of Additional Modifications
• ED80: Schedule of Main Modifications (Sustainability Appraisal)

What is Council Note 35?

Council Note 35 comprises new revisions to the Plan following changes to planning legislation, policy and guidance and updated histories on planning permissions and applications.

Council Note 35 (ED71) comprises new revisions to the Plan following changes to planning legislation, policy and guidance and updated histories on planning permissions and applications. The note is also accompanied by five appendices.

• ED71A: Appendix 1 – Housing Trajectory
• ED71B: Appendix 2 – Source Information on the Non-deliverability of DS48
• ED71C: Appendix 3 – Deliverability of Sites
• ED71D: Appendix 4 – Effingham 2022 Appeal Decision
• ED71E: Appendix 5 – Lower Road Transport Note

Can I comment on parts of the plan that are not modifications?

No. This consultation is only about modifications and Council’s Note 35. Any comments about the rest of the plan or general comments on sites, policies or the plan will not be considered by either the Inspector or the Council.

The Inspector will also not be considering the Changes to the Policies Map, the Changes to the Sustainability Appraisal or the Additional Modifications.

When does the consultation take place?

The consultation takes place from Friday 1 March 2024 to 5pm on Tuesday 23 April 2024.

Where can I view the lists of modifications?

The Main Modifications and the lists of other modifications can be found at www.futuremolevalley.org

Main Modifications & Council Note 35 Consultation

Paper copies of the lists of modifications will be lodged at the Council offices in Dorking and local libraries.

Mole Valley District Council Offices Pippbrook, Dorking, RH4 1SJ	Mon-Fri: 9.00-14.30 (please make an appointment if possible)
Ashtead Library Woodfield Lane, Ashtead, KT21 2BQ	Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 Sat: 9.30-17.00
Beare Green Village Hall Merebank, Beare Green, RH5 4RD	Mon: 14.00-14.30
Bookham Library Townshott Close, Great Bookham, KT23 4DQ	Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 Sat: 9.30-17.00
Dorking Library St Martin’s Walk, Dorking, RH4 1UT	Mon, Wed, Fri: 9.30-17.30 Tues, Thurs: 9.30-19.00 Sat: 9.30-17.00
Leatherhead Library The Mansion, Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8DP	Tues-Sat: 9.30-17.00

The details for principal offices and libraries are correct as of February but may change due to circumstance. If you are having trouble viewing a hard copy of the documents, please email: planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk or phone 01306 885001.

How to I respond?

To make a representation on one of the modifications:

● Please send an email or email with attachment to planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk

● Please send a letter to Planning Policy, Mole Valley District Council, Pippbrook, Dorking. RH4 1SJ.

When making a representation:

● Please make clear which modification number you are commenting on

● Please remember to base your comments on the Government’s test of soundness:

Is the modification positively prepared?

Is the modification robust (based on evidence)?

Is the modification effective (deliverable)?

Is the modification consistent with national planning policy?

What happens to the representations?

The Inspector will ask the Council to comment on the representations and then the representations and Council comments will be sent to the Inspector for her final consideration.

Consultation Information Arrangements

Any responses received to the consultations will be held electronically for the purposes of meeting the Council’s duties arising from reporting consultations. Consultation responses will be made public but your personal data, other than your name or the name of the person you are acting for, will not be made public. Consultation responses will be kept for two years post adoption of the plan.

Consultation responses and your personal data will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate and a Programme Officer. The Programme Officer works for the Planning Inspector who will examine the plan. The Programme Officer may contact you using the personal information you have provided.

Yours faithfully

The Planning Policy Team

The only way is up in Elmbridge – but it won’t cost more to park longer in Leatherhead

10, maybe 20 or 30 years ago the increase or introduction of car park charges in Surrey towns would have been headline news and provoked campaigns and demonstrations.

Today, with by all accounts most local authorities, particularly County and unitary councils finding themselves in an unsustainable financial position, parking charges are an important income source. And in a world where congestion, low emission and road charging is imposed for environmental and economic reasons. All too easy to accuse Councils of being ‘greedy’ but look at the dire situation in Woking following a financial meltdown causing 10% Council tax rise and cuts to services. Most Councils have significant borrowing and lower reserves than they once did. Business rates, contrary to urban myth are not set or retained locally, but redistributed around the country.

85pc of councils told us they still have to make cost savings in 2024/25 despite extra Gov funding and council tax rises

Ahead of next week's Budget, our new survey lays bare the tough decisions they face and the potential impact on our communitieshttps://t.co/JUCL3Clikc

— LGANews (@LGANews) February 28, 2024

https://www.local.gov.uk/about/news/councils-warn-cuts-neighbourhood-services-lga-survey

The few exceptions on free parking are towns like Witney and Ely where the car parks are operated by the Parish or Town Council which can afford to completely subsidise them through the local precept the residents pay on top of their Council tax to the County and District.

Elmbridge, including Cobham and Oxshott, is increasing its parking fees by 10% across the board, and they are already among the highest in Surrey and include Sundays. Some permits and a 30 minute free pilot in Walton on Thames continue unchanged.

These charges in Esher will increase 10% in April

Epsom and Ewell charge £2.50 per day flat rate on Sundays, £2 per hour in the Ashley Centre, and their charging regime continues into the evenings 7 days a week.

Mole Valley, including Leatherhead Ashtead and Dorking is continuing to offer free parking after 6pm, and on Sundays and Bank Holidays, and in specific 30 minutes free bays. For 2024/25 it has agreed to variable charging as set out at last week’s Council budget setting meeting, with the hourly rate increasing by 10p/hour, but those parking 4 hours or longer paying less.

MVDC deputy leader and Leatherhead councillor Bridget Kendrick used her Budget presentation to stress that the authority is not at risk of financial meltdown (section 114 in local government speak) and any reports of this were incorrect. (Possibly another Council with Valley in its title was misquoted by a Labour MP in Parliament).

In the event that a Business Improvement District were established in Leatherhead – the levy it raises can be used to fund a town manager, marketing and events, and the BID can be awarded grants from the various Council administered funds and other economic funding sources. Dorking’s BID https://dorkingtownpartnership.co.uk/ is in its second term and has used some of its funding to subsidise parking late in the afternoon. Cobham has just established a BID https://www.onecobham.com/ , and larger Surrey towns including Epsom have adopted this model – larger multiple stores and franchises are used to the levy system eg. Waitrose, Boots and McDonalds.

Sainsburys and Waitrose in Leatherhead offer a parking charge reimbursement for a minimum spend. Though the Sainsbury’s arrangement may not be available with Ringgo and we understand requires a paper ticket issued in Swan Centre.

Note 1 – on-street parking and its enforcement is now fully operated by Surrey County Council. This includes on-street permit parking zones. https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/parking/parking-and-permits

Note 2 – EV charging points in the off-street car parks in Leatherhead and Ashtead were not funded by parking fees income – the District Council was provided with funding from central government via the Local Enterprise Partnership as part of building a network of EV charging. MVDC receives pay and display income when the bays are used during charging hours, but as pictured in Ashtead they are free parking after 6pm

Cameras and markings on Leatherhead town centre roads explained !

Curious what these are all about ? Go along to the Leatherhead Theatre on Thursday (29 February) 7pm or watch the presentation live online at http://transformleatherhead.com/live-stream/ or replay.

29 February “Transform Leatherhead” forum

https://news.molevalley.gov.uk/2024/02/26/join-in-with-the-2024-transform-leatherhead-forum

Two new businesses in Leatherhead opening 2 March 2024

Two new businesses arrive in Leatherhead this week:

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 We’re thrilled to announce the grand opening of our flooringshop ROMA-SCAR FLOORINGSTUDIO! 🏠✨ Step into a world of quality, style, and endless possibilities for your home or business. From sleek hardwood or LVT to cozy carpets, we have everything you need to transform your space. Join us on Saturday the 2nd of march for exclusive discount, refreshments, and expert advice from our team. Don’t miss out on this special event – mark your calendars and let’s make your flooring dreams a reality! #GrandOpening #FlooringShop #TransformYourSpace 🛠🏡
74 Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8ER

This is next to the Public Library in what was originally the coal merchants

And as we’ve reported before, childcare provision in Leatherhead is expanding close to the station business parks and new housing:

The Learning Experience – Leatherhead

Join us for our Grand Opening on 2nd March 2024, 10am-14:00pm! Food, Face paint and Festive Fun! Randalls Way, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7TW

Come join us for face paint, refreshments and a whole lot of fun! A perfect opportunity to have a look around our brand-new state of the art nursery with the whole family!

For childcare enquiries:

01372 234 741 or email us at Leatherhead@tlechildcare.com

The same nursery chain will be opening at Pixham in Dorking after construction work by Stonegate in complete on the former Aviva Friends Provident site

Recruitment via Mole Valley Employment and Skills Hub in Leatherhead

#Bookham #Leatherhead roadworks update 26 February

Road safety including cycling and pedestrians, speed limits – survey for SCC remains open for comment https://visionzerosurrey.commonplace.is/

Update on the closure and access issues at the Esso service station in Bookham issued Monday evening 26 February:

Clare Curran County Councillor for Bookham & Fetcham West

  · TODAYS NEWS ABOUT HYLANDSAnother site meeting at the garage today brought better news. As soon as possible after tomorrow. (Tuesday) the road closure of Eastwick Road is to be lifted with temporary lights controlling access to/from the A246 so that access to the petrol station and other businesses will be back to normal. Thanks to everyone who has contacted me to express concern about the effects on trade, it was so helpful to be able to show the strength of our community support for our local businesses. The situation will have to be monitored, and congestion and safety in the area kept under review. SGN ought to have completed their work by the time of the full weekend closure of the M25 in 3 weeks time. But I did also follow up with the highways team that there has only been a skeleton crew working there.

The background here is unplanned but necessary gas work to protect from a catastrophic loss of supply, SGN has previously indicated. SCC cannot stop Utility companies undertaking genuine safety and supply critical work but its officers and councillors can try to negotiate.

More generally with further Junction 10 project related closures on the M25 or A3 into certain dates in March, the http://www.one.network maps indicate SCC has an embargo on planned highways work permits within an exclusion zone around the M25 and major A roads that take the traffic when it’s briefly closed.

Towards Cobham on the A245 overnight closures for resurfacing near Chelsea FC and Woodlands Lane this week and next:

Stoke Road, Cobham, Surrey 26 February – 06 March Roadworks, Delays likely Traffic management: Road closure Description: Major resurfacing including full reconstruction and civils works were necessary Works location: N Chelsea FC Entrance to Woodlands Lane Junction Responsibility for works: Surrey County Council Current status: Planned work about to start Works reference: MA900MM24-25-S58-009

Stoke Road, Cobham, Surrey link to details

Replacement of broken bollards and posts in the Leatherhead town centre- routine planned work:

High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey

26 February – 26 February

Roadworks, Delays unlikely

Traffic management: No carriageway incursion

Description: Supply and install 2 x missing bollards

Works location: O/S 1 Bridge Street (old Natwest Bank) and O/S no. 2 High Street (Old Santander bank)

Responsibility for works: Surrey County Council

Current status: Planned work about to start

Works reference: MA900MPW-545272

Cleeve Road

A couple of issues following recent diversion traffic reported to SCC but yet to be inspected . It might be quite difficult to do anything until things have dried out.

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/report-a-highway-problem

If the issue reported doesn’t get actioned you can ask the local county councillor to follow up. Some district councillors will also help.

Sign up using the online form to receive the SCC Your Highways Update via email each week. This update includes news stories and the weekly bulletin of upcoming and completed roadworks in your local area.

Weekly updates

• Elmbridge including Oxshott Cobham
• Epsom and Ewell
• Guildford including Effingham
• Mole Valley
• Reigate and Banstead
• Runnymede
• Spelthorne
• Surrey Heath
• Tandridge
• Waverley
• Woking
• Highways England including M25 and A3

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-east/m25-junction-10/

Flood Alert update 26 February

UPDATE – the latest alert was removed early on Tuesday 27 February 2024

Monday 26 February

Latest flood alert update for the middle Mole through Leatherhead and Cobham:

https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/target-area/064WAF32MdleMole

Further update by 9am Tuesday using the above link

Link to Environment Agency Flood Alerts also on our homepage

See also

Tweets by SirGeogy

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1392409104410488 Friends of the River Mole Leatherhead

https://www.facebook.com/groups/169680455949660 River Mole Watch

29 February “Transform Leatherhead” forum

Details of this week’s interactive event covering all the long-running projects branded as Transform Leatherhead (TL) since about 2015. http://transformleatherhead.com/live-stream/

There seems to be a chance that some of it will actually be done with a commercial joint venture (JV) in place and a Government grant for demolition of the riverside disused office buildings. And much closer working between Surrey County Council and Mole Valley than before.

The JV architects have already done some work in Leatherhead – the NHS facility at the Mole Business Park remodelling for Surrey & Borders Partnership Trust.

There is also a current minor consultation on one aspect of TL that was delivered before the pandemic, in Church Street where the Lime trees have proved unsuitable and are to be replaced with ones that don’t drip sticky sap onto the pavement www.surreysays.co.uk/environment-and-infrastructure/church-street-leatherhead

It has already been confirmed that the replacement planters will be reduced in number to 37 and planted out for the late spring, but are required to provide separation of outside seating from moving vehicles, and to restrict some of the more haphazard parking.

SCC has also agreed in principle to a town mural on the wall on one way system

The Transform Leatherhead Forum will return to The Leatherhead Theatre on Thursday 29 February 2024 (7-9pm) for a live and interactive forum meeting, featuring external speakers from joint venture partner Kier Property and lead architects TP Bennett.

Attendees can expect to hear the latest updates on all key projects, insights into the post-pandemic evolution of high streets and town centres across the country, plus details of how to get involved in the forthcoming round of public consultation on the Swan Centre and Bull Hill projects.
 
The evening event, taking place in the main auditorium of The Leatherhead Theatre, will be split into two parts: the first 90 minutes will feature presentations, whilst the remaining 30 minutes will be an opportunity for the audience to ask any questions.
 
19.00 Welcome
19.00-20.30 Presentations
20.30-21.00 Q&As
21.00 Close
 
All welcome, no pre-registration required.
 
For those who cannot make it to the theatre on the night, the event will be live-streamed via the http://transformleatherhead.com/live-stream/ website. Questions can be submitted online through our Facebook or X/Twitter channels, or via the online platform Mentimeter (the code for Mentimeter will be available on the night).
 
A full recording of the event plus a summary of the most commonly asked questions will be published following the event.

Ahead of this councillors have been scrutinising the first

“Joint Venture Annual Business Plan”

44 page report to Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet January 2024 including annual plan prepared by Kier Property the Council’s Joint Venture partner.

The Joint Venture (JV) annual report indicates further public engagement on Bull Hill and Swan Centre after the pre-elections period May/June.

What is the Joint Venture ?

The MVDC joint venture agreement with Kier Property was signed in October, and both sides have made their first financial investment payments into the partnership. A team of professional specialists has been appointed to begin work on the first stages of the redevelopment.

Ground surveys on the two sites, Bull Hill and the Swan Centre, started in early December – you may have seen some of the surveyors out and about with various pieces of kit. Markings and traffic survey cameras also.

Bull Hill

The first stage of public engagement will start in spring 2024, with an outline planning application targeted for submission later in the year.

Read more about the Joint Venture

Extracts from the business plan by Kier – this is a project document rather than part of the public engagement and more user friendly information can be expected:

The riverside including Claire and James House site is another project within the TL branding

Awaiting demolition for a Government backed brownfield development – housing possibly a retirement developer ?

Updated : local events #Leatherhead

Leatherhead Parish

Please join us at the Spring Market which will be held at the Lighthouse (Leatherhead Parish Hall) on Saturday 2nd March 10.30am – 1.30pm.

Everyone is welcome to drop in to browse the stalls including cakes, crafts, cards, haberdashery, preserves, bric-a-brac and much more. Refreshments also available.

Public Forum

Lots of local events and activities including several at the Stockroom in Swan Centre, checkout their social media for latest links https://www.thestockroomsociety.uk/whats-on or sign up for emails.

https://www.thestockroomsociety.uk/whats-on

And at the Institute https://www.leatherheadca.org.uk/

https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/KeepLivingTheLifeYouWantLeatherheadCommunityAssoc

If you would like to learn more about  lifeline alarm and TEC serviceand how it can help to support you or your loved one to live independently at home for longer, please do pop along to see our friendly team at one of our events:

Monday 4th March, 14.00 – 16.00 at Leatherhead Community association, Abraham Dixon Room, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Live TEC Demonstrations and Drop-in Clinics

Join us for our weekly Wednesday coffee morning on 6th March 2024, 10.30-12noon, we welcome back Cara and Amanda from Cunningham-Eves Solicitors answering questions about wills and inheritance tax. @SurreyLibraries @SurreyNews pic.twitter.com/4cgD4vrO0i

— Leatherhead Library (@LeatherheadLib) February 28, 2024

LEATHERHEAD ROTARY COLLECTION

Freewheelers find new home in Leatherhead

Thursdays are the new Friday – for Martha’s Market now first Thursday each month at the Church Hall / Lighthouse 10.30/12

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 We’re thrilled to announce the grand opening of our flooringshop ROMA-SCAR FLOORINGSTUDIO! 🏠✨ Step into a world of quality, style, and endless possibilities for your home or business. From sleek hardwood or LVT to cozy carpets, we have everything you need to transform your space. Join us on Saturday the 2nd of march for exclusive discount, refreshments, and expert advice from our team. Don’t miss out on this special event – mark your calendars and let’s make your flooring dreams a reality! #GrandOpening #FlooringShop #TransformYourSpace 🛠🏡
74 Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8ER

SWAN CENTRE Mother’s Day market Saturday 9 March

https://fb.me/e/8LK7Dio1W

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mole Valley Employment & Skills Hub (@molevalleyhub)

Orchid Talk & MOT Clinic at Ashtead Park Garden Centre

11am Sunday 17^th March

Once your orchid has finished flowering it can look a little sad, but don’t despair, the orchid doctor will be at Ashtead Park Garden Centre with tips, repotting techniques and lots more expert advice on how to care for orchids and help them re-flower. Don’t forget to bring your orchid for personal care tips, with the option to have your orchid repotted by an expert when you buy a pot and Orchid Focus potting mix.

Book your place now! – £2.50

https://www.ashteadpark.com/webshop/events/19/orchid-talk-repotting-demo-mot

https://fb.me/e/7gVcOe8JU

Terrarium workshop at Ashtead Park Garden Centre

1.30pm & 3pm Sunday 17^th March

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon creating your own terrarium with expert guidance and advice. The workshop includes everything you need to make your own unique plant art, plus tea or coffee and cake! Tickets would make a great Mother’s Day gift…

Booking essential – £42 per person

https://www.ashteadpark.com/webshop/events/18/terrarium-workshop-march-2024

https://fb.me/e/3gByTGVrI

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at The Olive Tree

Includes spring flowers for mums!

Spend some quality time with mum, chatting over a delicious afternoon tea including delicate finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, sweet treats and of course, lots of tea (or upgrade to gin or prosecco!).

£24.95 per person, £10 deposit per head.

To book, please call The Olive Tree on 01372 271188.

https://www.ashteadpark.com/activities/108/mother-s-day-afternoon-tea

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Plough Leatherhead (@theploughleatherhead)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leatherhead Theatre (@leatherheadtheatre)

https://theleatherheadtheatre.com/whatson/post-office-scandal-the-inside-story/ 18 April

Planning Applications February 2024 update

Latest planning applications and decisions plus committee agenda for 6 March 2024

Update on Local Plan – linked below. Thakeham has now applied for outline permission on the Green Belt site at Preston Farm Little Bookham which is zoned for release in the draft now unpaused Local Plan. See the Design and Access statement by Thakeham

And an appeal win (with costs) for the developer at 1 Thistle Cottages for a small infilling proposal in north Leatherhead. This shows how challenging it is for the Council to refuse new housing. It remains to be seen which of the approved schemes for the site the developer opts to build, as the Council had accepted a later one.

There is also a pre-application environmental screening request for a solar farm in Fetcham between Cobham Road and the M25/ Slyfield. https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/125218

Committee Agenda

Link to agenda and reports on MVDC’s share point system

Latest lists

Summaries of recent planning applications registered or decided (determined) can be viewed and downloaded from the links below.

Running Lists-including the first 3 weeks of February

2 Feb 9 Feb 16 Feb

Latest list 23 Feb

Decisions

23 Feb decision list

Public Notices

Alternatively, real-time weekly lists of applications registered or decided are also available.

Nationwide, 1 North Street Leatherhead fascia changes for dark blue corporate rebranding (Grade 2 listed building) https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/124982 but no ATM.

It’s also been confirmed – Fetcham councillor Caroline Joseph checked with Planning Officers – the new shop next door at 3A North Street (Triangle Express) did not need any permission for its green shopfront (the same colour as their Dorking shop)

So many aspects of the planning process have been deregulated by the Government – and as 3A North Street had been vacant over 3 years the landlord could even have converted it to a flat without any permission being needed. There is now a very broad commercial use class, no permission is needed for a shop to switch to be a cafe or vice versa. The ex furniture shop in Church Street does not need any permission for restaurant use, although takeaway opening hours are subject to permission. But – if you already own your own home and want to extend it, convert it to flats or even add an extra floor – this has also been made easier, in many cases.

We also understand an enforcement case on 49-51 High Street Leatherhead (the long vacant shop opposite Wetherspoons) is progressing towards the magistrates court. The site has long had permission for redevelopment but the enforcement issue is the appearance of the property in the meantime.

Comment on a Planning Application

If you wish to comment on a planning application that has yet to be decided, you can find more details at Comment on a Planning Application

Appeals

Appeals now underway on Green Belt sites – ones MVDC has refused but which might be confirmed by Government anyway, regardless of Local Plan status – potential 500 homes in south of the district:

Local Plan

In late January 2024 the Minister for Housing issued MVDC with a direction not to withdraw its Local Plan

The MVDC Leader Cllr Stephen Cooksey indicated this week “With Councillors last month having reached a decision to proceed with an unchanged Local Plan, we are currently awaiting confirmation from the Planning Inspector that we can proceed to the next – and final -stage in the Plan’s process; the Main Modifications consultation. When timings are agreed with the Inspector, I will share this news in a future statement. The consultation will last for seven weeks.”

Government are also consulting on a further amendment to national policy, but presumably if implemented it won’t be retrospective either, so perhaps more relevant to Epsom and Ewell Local Plan and any brownfield sites in Leatherhead or Dorking that come forward later.

Source : https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7166429467131781120

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-planning-policy-for-brownfield-development/strengthening-planning-policy-for-brownfield-development

UPDATED – Green Belt – Mole Valley MP once again debates Local Plan in Parliament

Updated with replay and transcript plus an unexpected intervention from Keir Starmer.

In possibly one of his final interventions in the House of Commons after 32 years, the veteran MP for Mole Valley, Sir Paul Beresford, put on the record once again his long term frustration at the decision to include some Green Belt for housing development allocations.

Replay https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/39bede2d-bdb1-4ef5-9332-5736eb4e3be0

Transcript https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-02-22/debates/2C51F53A-06EF-444C-881F-A649CE8AE80F/MoleValleyLocalPlan

The MP remarked:

“….I recognise that the proportion of land protected from development in Mole Valley is considerable, and, relatively speaking, the quality of brownfield sites free for development is small in comparison, but it is not impossible to increase the number of dwellings on those brownfield sites. I know from my own time in inner London that with imagination and the new rules and regulations on building, it is possible to increase density and height and adapt those sites.

It has been claimed that the percentage of green-belt sites that the Liberal plan will remove from protected status is small. However, that is a bit like my saying to a cancer patient that the prospect of a long-term cure is 97%—it sounds great, unless they are in the 3%. That is what is happening with green-belt sites. The figures are small in percentage terms, but if they affect someone who chose to live there in part because of those green-belt sites, it is bad news…”

The Minister told Sir Paul :

‘..It is clear that Mole Valley has not been delivering homes—its delivery is within the bottom 10% nationally, as shown in the latest housing delivery test results. The council has indicated, as part of its examination documentation, that it had a shortfall of 1,164 dwellings over a five-year period, with only 2.9 years of supply.

My hon. Friend will also know that housing affordability is a significant issue in Mole Valley. The council is clearly way, way behind, first on having a plan, and secondly on delivery of housing..’

But, perhaps the elephant in the room was the Leader of the Opposition who was in nearby Crawley today, and made clear that any Labour Party government would prioritise housing even if more Green Belt was needed to do it. BBC Surrey report:

Sir Keir Starmer says he is "determined" to build houses on green belt land in the South East of England.

Tap below to read more: https://t.co/bQYxXm9zqt

— BBC Radio Surrey (@BBCSurrey) February 22, 2024

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-68371594

As a resident of Bookham, Sir Paul is particularly concerned with the proposals for Preston Farm on the western edge of the village. The other Green Belt sites, in the main, are further south in the district including Hookwood, and to the west of Dorking. (The Ermyn Way site nearest to Leatherhead is not in Sir Paul’s constituency).

Sir Paul has always felt that more brownfield land should be zoned for additional homes and taller buildings, although that is already a big part of the draft Mole Valley plan eg. Bull Hill Leatherhead, and Pixham Mills, Dorking.

The MP is also likely to suggest MVDC did not fully take on board what a Minister told them in summer 2023 and could have ‘un-paused’ the examination of their Local Plan earlier. Reply from Minister of State for Housing & Planning to Councillor’s Letter (ED63) On re-reading the letter, it can be taken to say that changes to planning guidance are not normally retrospective. This was eventually confirmed by the next Minister in December 2023, in the revised policy framework. The Minister, who may reply to Sir Paul’s debate on 22nd, also in January 2024 directed MVDC to get on with adopting its Local Plan rather than withdrawing it and preparing a variation under the new framework. Letter from Minister Lee Rowley MP to Councillor Cooksey

The MP has given a flavour of what he might say in a mailshot to constituents that is linked via his Facebook page, but a bit too party political for us to share until he puts some of it on the Parliamentary record.

The Planning Inspector Roisin Barrett has now set out how she will take the process forward in conjunction with the Council and its officers. Further detail/documents at http://www.futuremolevalley.org