27 residential flats at 6 Church Street West, Woking

“PROPOSAL: Prior Approval under the provisions of Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for change of use from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) to Dwellinghouses (Use Class C3) to provide 27x residential units.”

“This application is submitted under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA (commercial, business and service uses to dwellinghouses) of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for 27no residential flats across the ground, first and second floors with on-site car and cycle parking at lower ground floor level.”

“The application building relates to a three-storey office building sited between Church Street West and Goldsworth Road constructed around the late 90s/early 00s and within the defined Woking Town Centre. The building forms around a central courtyard with parking at basement and lower ground floor level.”

“PLAN/2025/0103 - Prior Approval under the provisions of Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for change of use from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) to Dwellinghouses (Use Class C3) to provide 33x residential units – Prior Approval Refused 11.04.2025 – Appeal in Progress (APP/A3655/W/25/3364067)”

“PLAN/2020/0568 - Demolition of all existing buildings and redevelopment of the site for a phased mixed-use scheme, comprising 929 residential units (Class C3), communal residential and operational spaces, commercial uses (Classes A1/A2/A3/A4/B1/D1/D2) at ground floor and homeless shelter (sui generis) within 5 blocks of varying heights of between 9 and 37 storeys (including rooftop amenity) to the north and south sides of the site together with soft and hard landscaping…”

“In conclusion, on the basis of the preceding the proposed development is considered to fall within the provisions set out within Article 3, Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended).”

“It is recommended that Prior Approval is Approved subject to the following conditions;”

“Council’s Contaminated Land Officer: Based on the information and proposals, which indicates there is to be no ground breaking & no provision of soft landscape at ground level. No comments to make with regards contaminated land.”

“Council’s Environmental Health Team: In the event of an approval please attach a condition to require works in accordance with the Noise Impact Assessment Report by Quantum Acoustics dated 25th February 2025 to include mechanical ventilation to the new residential units and AM4 Plant and equipment. No further objections from Environmental Health (13.05.2025)”

“Following a question from the Committee on whether the units would be rented or sold, the Planning Officer advised that this was not known as it was not a planning consideration.”

“In response to a follow up question on affordable housing, the Planning Officer confirmed that there was no requirement for affordable housing provision on a change of use application.”