Nine dwellings at Weybridge Bowling Club, Weybridge

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission for nine homes after demolishing the existing clubhouse, with access, appearance, layout and scale included.

“Reference Description Decision 2025/1214 Outline application for a development of up to 9 self-build residential units following demolition of existing Clubhouse (All Matters Reserved). Refused; Dismissed at Appeal 2025/0896 Outline application for a detached three-storey building for use as a Care Home (C2 use) (For Access, Appearance, Layout and Scale).”

Officer report

The site and its surroundings

The site is a 0.24-hectare bowling club with a single-storey building, bowling green and landscaping in a mixed commercial and residential area.

“The application site is located to the east of Springfield Lane. It is approximately 0.24 hectares in size and comprises Weybridge Bowling Club. The site is occupied by a rectangular single storey building and bowling green with associated landscaping. The site does not benefit from an existing parking area for the Weybridge Bowling Club.”

“The surrounding area consists of a mix of commercial and residential uses located within Weybridge Town Centre. Weybridge Monument Green Conservation Area is approximately 27m away to the north of the site.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier proposals for homes, a care home and parking were refused, and the similar nine-home scheme was dismissed on appeal for highway safety and wall concerns.

“The scheme was then dismissed at appeal (APP/K3605/W/25/3373000) due to its unacceptable impact on highway safety particularly for pedestrians and cyclists and loss of a section of locally listed wall.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the scheme would provide nine homes on a sustainable site and its benefits would significantly outweigh the identified adverse impacts.

“Paragraph 11 of the NPPF states that plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development. [...] For decision-taking this means: c) approving development proposals that accord with an up-to-date development plan without delay; or d) where there are no relevant development plan policies, or the policies which are most important for determining the application are out-of-date, granting permission unless: i) the application of policies in…”

“As such, the benefits of the scheme are considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the adverse impacts. The recommendation is therefore to grant outline planning permission subject to conditions.”

Officer report

What local people said

Twenty-five letters from 22 households objected on grounds including traffic, access, parking, harm to neighbours, overdevelopment, the wall and loss of community use.

“Loss of a community facility • Out of character • Overdevelopment of the site and area • Detrimental impact on existing properties • Detrimental impact on privacy • Detrimental impact on local infrastructure • Springfield Lane too narrow and inadequate for the development • The access through Henbury Place is unacceptable, including during construction • Henbury Place car park is already narrow with no space to manoeuvre • Noise, disruption and security risks • Impact on…”

“The only reasonable access to the development is through the Baker Street car park • Lack of clarity and consistency regarding access arrangements – it has been indicated to the owners of the flats at Henbury Place that the access via Henbury Place is a temporary arrangement with the longer-term intention to create new access onto Springfield Lane • Insufficient detail regarding waste disposal and collection arrangement – this could lead to further obstruction of…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector addressed the Sub-Committee.

The committee’s decision

The Sub-Committee granted outline planning permission with the conditions and informatives set out in the agenda.

“Outline planning permission granted with the conditions and informatives as outlined in the agenda.”

Minutes