Educational and community redevelopment at Highams Park, Chertsey Road, Windlesham

“This application relates to the wider Gordon Murray site but specifically the Molecule Building, the adjacent diner building and the surrounding landscaped area. Planning permission is sought for the partial redevelopment of the Molecule Building and diner building, together with associated landscaping and parking, to facilitate a mixed educational, community and storage use.”

“This application relates to the Molecule Building, and the adjacent diner building and the surrounding landscaped area. The Molecule Building was previously utilised as office use for the BOC, however due to its current state of disrepair, it has not been utilised by the GMG. The diner building was primary used as an in-house diner/restaurant for staff and visitors.”

“The site is within the Green Belt. It is within Flood Zone 1, the lowest level of flood risk. It is also outside of but in close proximity to the Chobham Common Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); the Thurley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham Special Area of Conservation (SAC); a National Nature Reserve; and is within 400 m of the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area (SPA).”

“Prior to the submission of the Reserved Matters application stage a detailed business, education and community plan for the Molecule building shall be submitted for approval by the LPA. The plan shall robustly include details of:”

“The proposal supports delivering sustainable redevelopment that secures the long-term educational and community use of the Molecule Building, as originally agreed under permission 20/0747/FFU.”

“The proposed development would satisfy the criteria of paragraph 154 of the NPPF and is therefore not inappropriate development in the Green Belt. For this reason, no further assessment of harm to openness or very special circumstances is required.”

“The tree removal part of the application was also further clarified in the Updates Report. The officer report at paragraph 7.6.9 states that 25 individual trees are to be removed, however this is across the wider site. Within the redline boundary 13no. trees are removed (+some shrub groups) are to be removed.”

“Members further questioned the trees that would be removed as part of the application, the hours the site would be used by students, officers and visitors and the increased traffic to the site.”

“Minutes\Planning Applications Committee\21 May 2026 It was confirmed by the case officer that a condition to include a bus service to the site was unreasonable.”

“The officer’s recommendation to grant, subject to conditions and a legal agreement was proposed by Councillor Shaun Garrett, seconded by Councillor Dave Hough put to the vote and carried.”

“NOTE 4 In accordance with Part 4, Section D, Paragraph 18 of the Constitution, the voting for the officer’s recommendation to grant the application, subject to conditions and a legal agreement was unanimous, as follows:”

“The Updates Report published after the agenda, included a re-wording of condition 27: The development hereby permitted shall be used for mixed educational, storage and ancillary uses in connection with the wider use of the site (by Gordon Murray Group operations or any other future operator), together with use by the community, as established under condition 32 of permission 20/0747/FFU and agreed under details and in compliance with 25/0242/DTC.”

“RESOLVED that application 25/1264/FFU be approved, subject to conditions and a legal agreement.”