159 homes at 35 42 Centrum Business Park, East Street

What was proposed

The application sought 159 flats with landscaping, access and parking after phased demolition of existing buildings.

“WA/2024/01557 – Erection of 159 dwellings with associated landscaping, access and parking following phased demolition of existing buildings (Amended Scheme 2). at CENTRUM BUSINESS PARK 35-42 EAST STREET FARNHAM”

“The application seeks full planning permission for the erection of 159 dwellings (reduced from the initial submission for 162 dwellings) with associated landscaping, access and parking following phased demolition of existing buildings (Amended Scheme 2).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 0.67-hectare site contains commercial premises on a steep slope between East Street and Dogflud Way, near homes, shops and leisure facilities.

“The site is approximately 0.67 hectares in area and currently comprises commercial warehouses including two furniture stores and a Tyre Centre / MOT Garage; with a gym/health club on East Street. Centrum Business Park is a gateway site into Farnham. Located adjacent to but outside the designated Farnham Town Centre boundary, there are two existing access points from East Street in the north and Dogflud Way to the south.”

“There are a number of business parks, including St Paul’s and St Stephens; Brightwells to the south-west of the site and the Lionsgate development to the north of the site. Heights in the immediate vicinity of the building range between 1 and 4 storeys, with the Brightwells residential development at 4.5 and 5 storeys. Planning permission exists in the Woolmead site to the north-west of the application site and the Coach House to the north.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier decisions included a screening opinion for up to 170 homes, a warehouse extension, a residential conversion and several signage or gym permissions.

“Reference Proposal Decision SC/2024/00640 Request for Screening Opinion for up to 170 residential dwellings with associated car parking and landscaping.”

“WA/2021/0442 Erection of extension to existing warehouse with alterations to the car parking layout and shopfront.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to a legal agreement and conditions, judging the housing and other public benefits to outweigh minor adverse impacts.

“The planning balance assessment concludes that, whilst the proposal would not be entirely in accordance with the Development Plan with regard to the identified shortfall on garden distances with immediate neighbours on East Street, the loss of street trees and LLFA drainage concerns, the public benefits of delivering much needed housing to address Waverley’s acute five year housing land supply shortfall on a sustainable brownfield site, with tangible environmental and…”

“That delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director of Planning to complete a s106 legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out above and subject to the following conditions, permission be GRANTED:”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Highways, archaeology, water, ecology, environmental health, heritage and design consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, while drainage and trees prompted concerns.

“Natural England No objection subject to SPA/SAMMS s106 mitigation contribution. Surrey Wildlife Trust No objection subject to conditions. Active Travel England No objection subject to standing advice. WBC Environmental Health No objection subject to conditions WBC Housing Enabling Manager No objection. Accepts Council’s consultant’s review of the submitted Financial Viability Assessment that the scheme does not support a contribution towards affordable housing.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

Seventy-one objections raised concerns about affordability, height, character, privacy, amenity, parking, walking, cycling, pollution, flooding and infrastructure; one response supported the homes.

“Re-design Block E to be more in keeping with East Street’s architecture. • Daylight, Sunlight and Overshadowing Report is open to interpretation. • Analysis for 74 East Street refers to lots of windows of different properties. • Significant increase in number of flats from 150 in Neighbourhood Plan to 162. • Development lacks any meaningful amenity space. • Space between the blocks is dominated by car parking.”

“Limited connectivity to new walking/cycling route provided by Brightwells. • The footpaths are only 1.35m wide. • Need 2.0m wide pavement on eastern/southern perimeter and Dogflud Way. • A 2.5m shared footway/cycleway should be provided on north edge of site. • New raised tables and pedestrian and cycling crossings should be provided. • Footway/cycleway needed between Woolmead and Lower / Upper South View.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two objectors, two supporters and the ward councillor made representations under the public speaking scheme.

The committee debate

The committee voted against the officers’ recommendation before considering an alternative recommendation to refuse permission.

“Following the debate, the Committee voted against the officers’ recommendation to grant permission 5 in favour, 6 against and no abstentions.”

“Cllr David Munro then submitted an alternative recommendation to refuse the application and Cllr Richard Steijger seconded. The Committee voted in favour of the recommendation to refuse permission 6 in favour, 2 against and 3 abstentions…”

Minutes

The vote and decision

Permission was refused after six members supported refusal, two opposed it and three abstained, for reasons concerning enclosure, contributions and the SPA.

“Planning Permission REFUSED for the following Reasons…”

“Overbearing/increased sense of enclosure The proposed development would by reason of the scale and relationship of the development to the existing neighbouring dwellings be overbearing and result in an increased sense of enclosure harmful to the residential amenities of existing neighbouring occupiers contrary to Policies DM1 and DM5 of the Waverley Local Plan (Part 2) 2023, Policy FNP1 of the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan (2020) and the NPPF.”

Minutes