Four three-bedroom homes at 94 Send Road, Send, Woking

What was proposed

The application proposed four three-bedroom homes, removing two garages and three outbuildings and creating a new access road between two existing properties.

“Location: Land to the rear of 94 to 97 Send Road, Send, Woking, GU23 7HN Proposal: Erection of four dwellings following the removal of two existing garages and three existing outbuildings (additional information received 10/03/2025 and 21/03/2025 regarding BNG and visibility splays and amended location plan received 06/05/2025 to include visibility splay and highway works).”

Officer report

Planning history

No relevant historic planning applications were identified for the proposed development.

“Relevant planning history No historic planning applications that are relevant to the proposed development.”

Officer report

What officers advised

Officers recommended approval subject to contributions and conditions, considering the design, housing contribution, highways, ecology and neighbour impacts acceptable.

“Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area The proposed development may adversely impact the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBHSPA) due to the net increase in residential units at the site. The Council’s adopted TBHSPA Avoidance Strategy 2017 requires a SANG contribution and an Access Management (SAMM) contribution to avoid any adverse impact in line with the tariff within the annual updating of off-site contributions document.”

“Officers are therefore satisfied that, subject to appropriate conditions, in addition to pre- commencement condition to require the provision of a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) the requirements of policy D2 of the LPSS and policies D14, D15, D16 and P11 of the LPDMP will be…”

Officer report

Consultation and public views

The highways authority and other consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, while the parish council objected and most third-party comments opposed the proposal.

“Consultations Statutory consultees County Highway Authority - No objection subject to conditions…”

“Third party comments Letters of representation have been received from 20 third parties; 19 objecting to the proposals, and 2 supporting the proposals: Objection comments • the scale of proposed dwellings (height and roof pitch) would be overbearing to neighbours • design of proposed dwellings are out of context with traditional style of properties in the area • overdevelopment of small site • insufficient parking provided • insufficient space for large vehicles to turn…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector, the chair of Send Parish Council and the applicant’s agent addressed the committee, followed by a presentation from the council’s planning lead.

Committee consideration

The application had previously been deferred for a site visit, which took place before the committee considered the proposal.

“The Committee considered the above-mentioned full application for the erection of four three-bedroom dwellings in the rear gardens of 94-97 Send Road, Send following the removal of two existing garages and three existing outbuildings. The Committee noted that the application had been deferred at the last meeting for the purpose of conducting a site visit, which took place on 14 July 2025.”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to refuse was proposed and seconded, and the recorded vote was 10 in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.

“Councillor Patrick Oven moved the motion to refuse application 24/P/01428, and Councillor Richard Mills seconded the motion which was carried.”

“(1) By virtue of the height, width, mass and cramped nature of the proposed development, it fails to reflect the distinct local character of the immediate neighbouring properties in Send Road and Tannery Lane.”

Minutes

Local design concerns

The committee also found conflict with the Send neighbourhood policies on design and housing development, including character, settlement pattern and infrastructure pressures.

“(3) The proposed development also fails to meet two of the Send Neighbourhood Development Plan policies, namely:”

“(b) Paragraph (b) of Policy Send 2 - Housing Development, which states that housing development in Send Parish will be supported, provided that within the settlements of Send, Send Marsh and Burnt Common inset from the Green Belt it comprises development that reflects the character and settlement pattern of the surrounding area and avoids or mitigates increased pressure on community or transport infrastructure.”

Minutes