Two additional flats at Flat 1 The Anchor Public House, High Street, Knaphill, Woking

“The proposal relates to The Anchor Public House which is a Locally Listed two storey building understood to originally date from late C18 and is finished in painted render with shallowly pitched hipped roofs finished in slate. The principal front elevation of the building fronts onto Lower Guildford Road and features later additions to the rear. The building features 2x existing first floor flats and a garage structure and beer garden at ground floor level.”

“The proposal site forms a prominent corner position at the top of Anchor Hill on the crossroads with High Street, Lower Guildford Road, Highclere Road and Anchor Hill and is currently surrounded by hardstanding. Anchor Crescent is a parade of shops dating from the 1960s which borders the side and rear boundaries of the site which effectively creates an ‘island’ site where all elevations are prominent from public vantage points.”

“COND/2025/0068 - Approval of details pursuant to conditions 15 and 16 of planning permission PLAN/2023/0981 for Erection of two storey side and rear extensions and change of use of part of existing Public House to provide 8x self-contained residential units (3x two bed & 5x one bed) and retention of A3 (restaurant/café)/A4 (drinking establishment) use at ground floor level and associated external alterations, bin storage, parking and landscaping following demolition of…”

“COND/2025/0081 - Approval of details pursuant to conditions 3 (External Materials), 4 (Planting, Trees, Landscaping), 6 (Cycle Storage), 7 (Waste and Recycling Storage ), 8 (Acoustic Insulation and Ventilation) and 9 (Acoustic Insulation and Ventilation) of planning permission PLAN/2023/0981 for Erection of two storey side and rear extensions and change of use of part of existing Public House to provide 8x self- contained residential units (3x two bed & 5x one bed) and…”

“The previous approval at the site (application PLAN/2023/0981) included extensions to the building and the provision of 8x residential units along with the retention of commercial floor space for an A3 (restaurant/cafe) or A4 use (Public House/drinking establishment). The current proposal not maintain the commercial space previously approved and instead would create an additional 2 x 1 bedroom units.”

“The applicant has submitted a marketing report, which claims that the scheme has been extensively marketed, but did not attract any serious interest from commercial operators. Knaphill Local Centre is a vibrant commercial centre, with healthy occupancy rates and few vacancies. For this reason, it could be considered that a commercial unit on the subject site would be viable, just as many other businesses appear to be.”

“Councillor John Pearce, Ward Councillor for Knaphill, raised questions regarding allocation of parking spaces and access for non-residents. The Planning Officer advised that such matters were not planning considerations. It was noted that parking provision remained compliant with adopted standards, with eight on-site spaces retained in a revised layout. The Highways Authority had raised no objection subject to conditions for the provision of parking and cycle storage.”

“Members noted the site’s sustainable location within the local centre and expressed support for the scheme.”

“That planning permissionbe GRANTED subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement to secure the required SAM contribution and the conditions set out in the report.”

“++ Prior to any above ground works in connection with the development hereby permitted, a hard and soft landscaping scheme showing details of shrubs, trees and hedges to be planted, details of materials for areas of hard surfacing and details of boundary treatments, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

“++ Prior to any above ground works in connection with the development hereby permitted, details of secure cycle storage, including 1:100 or 1:50 scale elevations of any structures and details of materials, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such details as may be agreed shall then be implemented prior to the first occupation of the development hereby approved and retained thereafter for the lifetime of the development.”