Agenda item

The application was for the erection of a greenkeepers storage compound building including repair workshop, staff facilities and parking, erection of sand bay, building, alterations to existing staff building to provide additional staff residential accommodation, formation of new internal, access road, service yard including wash/fuel area and associated landscaping works. Demolition of vehicle garage,

sand bay, wash, and fuel bay containers, chemical and machine store and tool store.

The application is a resubmission of application ref. 2019/0615 that was granted 28 January 2020. The applicant was unable to implement the permission as the proposal sought construction over common land and no agreement was reached. As a result, the current submission seeks to resolve this matter by relocating the proposed buildings further north, approximately 8m.

The Committee queried the type of land with this application and it was confirmed as being outside Common land. It was explained to the Committee that agreement for development on Common land is outside of the planning process and would be a decision made by the Secretary of State for DEFRA.

The location of the site and that it was adjacent to Chobham Common was discussed along with Biodiversity net gain information. It was confirmed that Surrey Wildlife Trust had reviewed the application and had no objection.

It was highlighted that Chobham Parish Council had several objections, as detailed in the officer’s report.

The officer recommendation to grant the application, subject to conditions and referral to the Secretary of State for DHLUC (Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities) as a Departure from the Development Plan, was proposed by Councillor Kevin Thompson, seconded by Councillor Richard Wilson and put to the vote and carried.  

RESOLVED that application 23/0699/FFU be granted, subject to conditions and referral to the Secretary of State as a Departure from the Development Plan.

NOTE 1

Voting in favour of the motion to grant the application subject to conditions:

Councillors Cliff Betton, Shaun Garrett, Mary Glauert, Liz Noble, David O’Mahoney, Kevin Thompson and Richard Wilson.

Voting against the motion to grant the application subject to conditions:

Councillors Murray Rowlands, Victoria Wheeler, Helen Whitcroft and Valerie White.

Abstaining:

None.