Nine homes at 6A Bucknills Close, Epsom

The site and surroundings

The site measured 0.30 hectares, included residential and commercial buildings, shared access, a public footpath and part of a Grade II listed wall.

“The main site measures 0.30 hectares and contains an existing single storey dwelling and a number of ancillary residential outbuildings and a single storey commercial unit. The southern boundary is partially enclosed with a Grade II Listed Wall.”

“The site is accessed partially via a shared drive from Whitehorse Drive, before the access becomes private to the site. The access road is shared with two residentials properties (13a and 13b White horse Drive) and one commercial unit. (13 Whitehorse Drive) which is a general builders office and yard. Whitehorse Drive will be assumed into the subject site.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the housing, brownfield, employment-land and location benefits were not significantly outweighed by the identified adverse effects.

“The Council currently does not have a 5-year housing land supply. This means that the presumption in favour of sustainable development (paragraph 11 of the NPPF, also known colloquially as the ‘tilted balance’) is engaged, and that planning permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the NPPF as a whole.”

“Overall, this Agenda Report will demonstrate that whilst there are adverse effects in respect of this application, these would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole, or where specific policies in the Framework indicate that development should be restricted. The application is therefore recommended for approval.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

The Transport and Waste Manager objected, while the Highway Authority raised no objection subject to conditions; nine submissions raised access, traffic, amenity and waste concerns.

“Consultee Comments Internal Consultees Councils Transport and Waste Manager Objection Council’s Tree Officer No objection received Council’s Ecologist No objection subject to conditions…”

“Consultee Comments Councils Land Contamination Officer No objection subject to conditions External Consultees County Highway Authority No objection subject to conditions Lead Local Flood Authority Recommends condition in event of permission granted Nature Space No response received Public Consultation Neighbours The application was advertised by means of notification to 46 neighbouring properties, concluding on 21 April 2025.”

Officer report

Residents’ association concerns

The residents’ association said the narrow access remained unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles and that private waste collection arrangements were unsatisfactory.

“This latest application still fails to provide safe and adequate access arrangements to this backland site and still fails to provide satisfactory refuse collection arrangements.”

“A Section 106 Agreement to secure a private waste collection would absolve the Council from its statutory duty as a refuse and recycling waste collector of the proposed development.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Ward Councillor who called in the application and the applicant spoke at the meeting.

The committee debate

A motion to refuse on highway safety grounds was proposed and seconded, but it did not secure majority support.

“The Committee resolved (2 for, 3 against, and 3 abstaining) and the motion was lost. Following further consideration, Councillor Kate Chinn proposed a motion to agree the Officer recommendation as set out in the report. The motion was seconded by Councillor Clive Woodbridge.”

Minutes