Agenda and minutes

Planning and Regulatory Committee - Tuesday, 21 November 2023 10.30 am

Venue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF

Contact: Joss Butler  Email: joss.butler@surreycc.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

71/23

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

    • Share this item

    To receive any apologies for absence and notices of substitutions under Standing Order 41.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Apologies for absence were received from Jeffrey Gray.

72/23

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING pdf icon PDF 118 KB

    • Share this item

    To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2023.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The Minutes were APPROVED as an accurate record of the previous meeting.

73/23

PETITIONS

    • Share this item

    To receive any petitions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 84 (please see note 5 below).

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    There were none.

74/23

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

    • Share this item

    To answer any questions received from local government electors within Surrey in accordance with Standing Order 85 (please see note 6 below).

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    There were none.

75/23

MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

    • Share this item

    To answer any questions received from Members of the Council in accordance with Standing Order 68.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    There were none.

76/23

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

    • Share this item

    All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter

    (i)            Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or

    (ii)           Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting

    NOTES:

    ·         Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest

    ·         As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)

    ·         Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    There were none.

77/23

Surrey County Council Proposal EL2023/1953 - Land south-west of Waterside Drive, Walton on Thames, Surrey pdf icon PDF 558 KB

    • Share this item

    The construction of a new special educational needs school, including sport courts and pitches, vehicle parking, landscaping and new vehicular and pedestrian access from Waterside Drive.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Officers:

    Janine Wright, Principal Planning Officer

    James Lehane, Principal Transport Development Planning Officer

     

    Officer Introduction:

     

    1. The Principal Planning Officer introduced the report and update sheet and then provided Members with a brief overview. Members noted that the report was for the construction of a new special educational needs school, including sport courts and pitches, vehicle parking, landscaping and new vehicular and pedestrian access from Waterside Drive. Full details of the application could be found within the report.

     

    Speakers:

     

    Alex Burrows spoke in support of the application and made the following comments:

     

    1. Stated that she was the new head teacher designate for Hopescourt School and a member of the local community.
    2. That the community was in desperate need for a school that could meet the needs of local children with additional needs and disabilities.
    3. That there was an acute shortage of schools for autistic children and children with complex communication and interaction needs.
    4. That her daughter had attended over six schools due to unmet needs which resulted in periods of significant challenges related to mental health and wellbeing.
    5. That she had spoken to a number of families who could not find a suitable school place for their autistic son or daughter.
    6. That many children in the community travelled more than five miles each way between home and school. Many of those children had sensory needs that made their journeys particularly challenging.
    7. Provided an example of a child with autism who had been out of school for over a year.
    8. That children with autism were frequently bullied, isolated and, in some cases, were in a mental health crisis.
    9. That bespoke designed schools like Hopescourt School could provide direct access to open spaces, areas for sensory therapy and space and resource for flexible teaching.
    10. That the building had been designed with natural surroundings and autistic children in mind.
    11. That change and political support for autistic children was drastically needed.
    12. That Hopescourt School would support children with their journey into adulthood and meaningful employment.

     

    The Vice-Chairman asked for clarification on whether the head teacher was involved with the planning of the site from an early stage. The speaker explained that she was recruited last May so was not involved from an early stage. 

     

    The Local Member, Rachael I Lake, made the following comments:  

     

    1. That there had been many complaints due to the short time given to read the details of the application.
    2. That the need for a special educational needs school was close to her heart.
    3. That Surrey County Council had to be seen giving the best possible opportunities for residents, the environment and children.
    4. That she believed that there was an alternative site available for the school.
    5. That Members should not overlook the fact that the site was in the green belt just because there were special circumstances for the application.
    6. That the openness of the green belt was one of the top priorities.
    7. Suggested to Members that the application be postponed and that the building design be reversed so that it could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77/23

78/23

Surrey County Council Proposal SP23/00557/SCC - Former Sunbury Fire Station, Staines Road West Sunbury on Thames TW16 7BG pdf icon PDF 269 KB

    • Share this item

    Redevelopment of the former Sunbury Fire station site for a mixed use hub building incorporating Class E and Class F1 uses including library plus 12no. supported independent living units (use class C3)

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Officers:

    Chris Turner, Senior Planning Officer

     

    Officer Introduction:

     

    1. The Senior Planning Officer introduced the report and provided Members with a brief overview. Members noted that the report was for redevelopment of the former Sunbury Fire station site for a mixed use hub building incorporating Class E and Class F1 uses including library plus 12no. supported independent living units (use class C3). Full details of the application could be found within the report.

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1.    Officers explained to Members that the Local Plan in Spelthorne was used by officers to determine the planning application however it was the decision maker’s responsibility to determine what conditions should apply. Members further noted that the application being considered was a full application.

    2.    A Member thanked officers for organising a site visit.

    3.    Officers stated that there was no proposal to implement a pedestrian crossing near the site. A Member said that it was disappointing that a pedestrian crossing had not been proposed.

    4.    A Member asked whether officers were satisfied with the scale of the proposed building and whether options to include additional storeys. Officers explained that the application was determined as submitted and that they were unable to consider alternative designs. Further to this, another Member stated that they felt the site was under developed as there was an opportunity to increase the scale.

    5.    The Chairman moved the recommendation which received unanimous support.

     

    Actions / Further information to be provided:

     

    None.

     

    Resolved:

     

    That, pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992, application no. SP23/00557/SCC be PERMITTED subject to the conditions within the report and update sheet. 

     

     

     

79/23

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

    • Share this item

    The next meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Committee will be on 20 December 2023.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The date of the next meeting was noted.