Production building at Highams Park, Chertsey Road, Windlesham

“SUMMARY 1.1 The application relates to full planning permission for the construction of Building 3 associated with the approved wider redevelopment of Highams Park, the Gordon Murray HQ site together with associated parking, landscaping, and ancillary storage.”

“Hybrid planning permission was granted on 09 February 2021 for the redevelopment of the wider site, with Building 2 granted full planning permission and Buildings 1 and Building 3 granted outline planning permission with all matters reserved. The reserved matters needed to be submitted before 9 February 2024; however, no details were submitted as the detailed design for Building 3 had not been developed.”

“20/0747/FFU Hybrid planning application comprising: Full application for a new building for Sales, Manufacturing & Heritage (Building 2) together with test road, two new vehicular accesses onto Higham’s Lane, associated parking, landscaping, and ancillary outbuilding. Change of use of existing buildings (comprising former BOC Headquarters) for education, storage, business, and ancillary uses.”

“The proposal would be considered inappropriate development in the Green Belt, resulting in substantial harm to its openness and purposes. However, the hybrid planning permission, which considered the very special circumstances to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and character of the area, is a material consideration. In this instance, the very special circumstances remain applicable, and the provision of Building 3 would support the redevelopment benefits of this site.”

“The application is therefore recommended for approval subject to conditions.”

“The Committee agreed to request that the informative for the new entrance to be prioritised, outlined in the previous application in the meeting (28/0428/FFU) was to be requested for this application as well.”

“Note 3 An informative was to be placed on the application, requesting that the new entrance was opened first to allow all construction traffic to use this access point to the development, instead of the emergency access point.”

“The officer recommendation to approve the application, subject to conditions and referral to the Secretary of State as a departure from the Development Plan, was proposed by Councillor Shaun Garrett, seconded by Councillor Ying Tong-Perrett, put to the vote and carried.”

“Voting in favour of the officer recommendation to grant the application subject to conditions was unanimous from: Councillors Shaun Garrett, Cliff Betton, Ying Tong-Perrett, David O’Mahoney, Murray Rowlands, Shaun Macdonald, Vicotria Wheeler, David Whitcroft, Valerie White, and Richard Wilson.”

“RESOLVED that application 25/0435/FFU be approved, subject to conditions and referral to the Secretary of State as a departure from the Development Plan.”