Agenda item

Surrey County Council Proposal EP23/00633/CMA - Land at the former Auriol Junior School playing field and land at 2nd Cuddington (Rowe Hall), off Salisbury Road, Worcester Park, KT4 7DD.

Outline application for the erection of a part 1 and part 3 storey building for Extra Care Accommodation, comprising self-contained apartments, staff and communal facilities, and associated car parking (Class C2); the reprovision of a revised Scouts Hut curtilage including a new amenity area (Class F2); and a new access from Salisbury Road. Appearance and landscaping reserved (amended plans).

Minutes:

Officers:

Dawn Horton-Baker, Development Management Team Leader

 

Officer Introduction:

 

The Senior Planning Policy Officer introduced the report and updated sheet and provided Members with a brief overview. It was noted that the application was for the outline application for the erection of a part 1 and part 3 storey building for Extra Care Accommodation, comprising self-contained apartments, staff and communal facilities, and associated car parking (Class C2); the reprovision of a revised Scouts Hut curtilage including a new amenity area (Class F2); and a new access from Salisbury Road. Appearance and landscaping reserved (amended plans). Members noted further details as outlined in the published report.

 

Speakers:

 

  1. On behalf of the applicant / Agent, Chris Wilmshurst made the following points:

 

  1. That the site, being 1.54 hectares, was one of the largest selected as suitable for accommodating extra care housing and would deliver up to 93 units and is the first scheme in the Epsom and Ewell borough.
  2. That it comprised of a former school playing field and the grounds of the Second Cuddington Scout.
  3. Detailed discussion had been had with the Scout Group in regard to the scout land. The land was reorganised to facilitate the development and the Scout Group supported the proposal and consider the changes would improve opportunities for the use of the land.
  4. That the former school playing field had not been used for over 15 years and had become overgrown.
  5. That pre-application discussions had taken place with Sport England and, due to the loss of the playing field, the council had reached an agreement to offset the loss with a financial contribution of over £100,000 to fund local sporting facilities.
  6. That the proposal would offset 93 homes against Surrey’s target to deliver 725 homes for adults in need of care and support.

 

  1. The Local Member, Eber Kington, made the following points:

 

  1. That he welcomed the proposal as a contribution to the development of a modern adult social care for residents.
  2. That the site was predominantly a residential area, comprising of a mix of bungalows, two storey houses and some three storey houses and apartment blocks.
  3. That he was pleased that the four-storey block had been removed from the proposal.
  4. That the concept of extra care housing among residential homes would develop a residential and social mix which will enhance the community and provide much-needed housing units.
  5. That the application site is lined with trees which will provide privacy for the surrounding properties and residents of the development. The Local Member added that he was pleased with the limited tree loss.
  6. Noted that the development would result in a loss of 42.61 habitat units and would not provide a biodiversity net-gain. The Local Member added that he appreciated that offsite provisions had been proposed to offset this however the land identified was not in the local area. The Local Member asked the committee to investigate whether local land was available.
  7. In regard to paragraph 85 of the report and condition 22, which references the Worcester Park area, the Local Member said that the area should be referred to as Cuddington and Auriol.
  8. Asked the committee to review the wording of Condition 22 to make it more specific so the playing field mitigation scheme be undertaken in consultation with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and take account of the borough council’s Playing Pitch Strategy (August 2021) and the emerging local plan.

 

The Local Member asked that, in regard to Condition 22, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council be included as a decision maker and that, if mitigation works could not be identified from existing recreation facilities in Epsom and Ewell, that the £100,000 funding agreed with Sports England be used to fund other bids, such as from schools, in the local area. Officers stated that the decision could only be made by Surrey County Council as the Local Planning Authority. In regard to the £100,000 sum refenced in the report, officers added that the condition included within the report was not tying the specific sum of £100,000 in but was instead reference to the mitigation package for local playing facilities. The officer added that the final cost could be more or less the referenced figure.

 

In regard to Condition 22, The Local Member asked that Members of the Committee agree an informative to consult Epsom and Ewell Borough Council. The Chairman proposed an informative to inform Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the Local Member of the application when relevant, which was agreed.

 

In regard to Condition 22 and the reference to Worcester Park, Officers advised that the location be replaced with ‘local area’ in order to prevent restrictions on location.

 

Members noted that local transport links was limited in the area.

 

Key points raised during the discussion:

 

  1. The Chairman moved the recommendation, including the conditions outlined within the published report and update sheet, and the informatives outlined within the published report and agreed within these minutes, which received unanimous support.

 

Actions / Further information to be provided:

 

None.

 

Resolved:

 

That, pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning Regulations 1992, outline planning application ref: EP23/00633/CMA be approved, subject to planning conditions outlined within the published report and update sheet.

 

 

Supporting documents: