A Planning Inspector has dismissed the appeal by developers Chartwell Land and New Homes against the refusal of planning permission to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
The Inspector upheld the original grounds for refusal which were road safety, following objections from the highway authority Surrey County Council, and that the proposal would be out of character with the area and would result in an over development of the site due to the bulk, scale and mass of the building. She also cited Tandridge District Council's policy to protect the wooded hillsides in the built-up areas by ensuring that new development does not adversely affect the character of those areas and that there is no overall loss of tree cover.
The Inspector said: 'I conclude that there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety and the free flow of traffic..." and that '..... future residents would be faced with perilous highway conditions to access their homes from Westerham Road even with the signal crossing nearby because of the hazardous walking, cycling and driving conditions at the junction. There would be hazards to users of the A25 and Snatts Hill because of the increased use of the access. It would not provide a safe built environment as required by the social objective of sustainable development.
Furthermore, although it would make a more intensive use of land, it would erode the verdant hillside and impose engineering works and a large block of development, of a scale, bulk and massing at odds with its surroundings. It would not contribute to protecting and enhancing the built environment. It would be contrary to the environmental objective of sustainability.'
The appeal hearing was attended by local residents wishing to express their objections to the application. The scheme sparked very many objections from residents.
21 June 2019
Snatts Hill/A25 development appeal - public hearing 10am Tuesday 2 July
The appeal by developers Chartwell Land and New Homes against the refusal of planning permission to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25 is being held on Tuesday 2 July.
If you would like to attend, the appeal starts at 10am at Tandridge District Council offices in Oxted where a Planning Inspector will hold an informal hearing in public. Members of the public have the right to be heard.
Chartwell's planning application has been refused by Tandridge District Council on two grounds: road safety, following objections from the highway authority Surrey County Council, and overdevelopment of the site due to the scale, mass and bulk of the building.
The proposal is to demolish one house on Westerham Road which is opposite the A25 junction and replace it with a block of 14 flats. The flats would share the access with one other house making a total of 15 properties using the driveway. The scheme sparked very many objections from residents on road safety grounds because the junction is very busy, traffic lanes are narrow, visibility is restricted, and there is a history of accidents.
4 May 2019
The appeal hearing, scheduled for this coming Tuesday 7 May, by developers Chartwell Land and New Homes against the refusal of planning permission to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill/A25 has been postponed due to the assigned Inspector no longer being available.
At the moment we don't have a new date for the hearing. We have been told that cancelling a hearing at such short notice is highly unusual but have not been given a reason as to why the Inspector is no longer available.
3 April 2019
An appeal by developers Chartwell Land and New Homes against the refusal of planning permission to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25 is being held on Tuesday 7 May.
If you would like to attend, the appeal starts at 10am at Tandridge District Council offices in Oxted where a Planning Inspector will hold an informal hearing in public.
Members of the public have the right to be heard. We understand that how Inspectors deal with this varies - some ask members of the public to join in as and when they have a point to make, others will ask them as each party has concluded the end of each topic of discussion. But the Inspector will make his/her own views on this known at the outset of the hearing.
Chartwell's planning application has been refused by Tandridge District Council on two grounds: road safety, following objections from the highway authority Surrey County Council, and overdevelopment of the site due to the scale, mass and bulk of the building.
The proposal is to demolish one house on Westerham Road which is opposite the A25 junction and replace it with a block of 14 flats. The flats would share the access with one other house making a total of 15 properties using the driveway. The scheme sparked very many objections from residents on road safety grounds because of concerns that the junction is very busy, traffic lanes are narrow, visibility is restricted, and there is a history of accidents.
If you would like any more information, you are welcome to contact OLRG's Limpsfield Councillor, Phil Davies, at phildavies713@gmail.com
24 November 2018
Snatts Hill/A25 development appeal - deadline 28 November
Developers Chartwell Land and New Homes are appealing against the refusal of planning permission to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
Comments already made on the application will be sent to the Planning Inspectorate. But if you want to add more comments or you didn't comment on the original application but want to now, you can submit them to the appeal case officer by emailing east1@pins.gsi.gov and quoting Appeal Ref: APP/M3645/W/18/3204681 and the site address: Micawbers, 2 Westerham Road, Limpsfield, RH8 0ER.
The deadline for comments is 28 November 2018.
Chartwell's planning application has been refused by Tandridge District Council on two grounds: road safety, following objections from the highway authority Surrey County Council, and overdevelopment of the site due to the scale, mass and bulk of the building.
The proposal is to demolish one house on Westerham Road which is opposite the A25 junction and replace it with a block of 14 flats. The flats would share the access with one other house making a total of 15 properties using the driveway. The scheme sparked very many objections from residents on road safety grounds because the junction is very busy, traffic lanes are narrow, visibility is restricted, and there is a history of accidents.
29 June 2018
Developers Chartwell Land and New Homes have lodged an appeal against the refusal of planning permission to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
Chartwell's planning application was refused on two grounds: road safety, following objections from the highway authority Surrey County Council, and overdevelopment of the site due to the scale, mass and bulk of the building.
The proposal is to demolish one house on Westerham Road which is opposite the A25 junction and replace it with a block of 14 flats. The flats would share the access with one other house making a total of 15 properties using the driveway. The scheme sparked very many objections from residents on road safety grounds because the junction is very busy, traffic lanes are narrow, visibility is restricted, and there is a history of accidents.
The developers' appeal Statement of Case asserts that the proposal would not have a 'severe' impact on highway safety. It can be read on this link click here
If you have any queries about the application or the appeal you are welcome to contact OLRG's Limpsfield Councillor, Phil Davies, at phildavies713@gmail.com
20 April 2018
OLRG's Limpsfield Tandridge District Councillor, Phil Davies, has just been advised by the Council's Planning Department that it has refused the application to build 14 two bedroom flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
To read the decision notice refusing the application click here
The proposal was to demolish one house on Westerham Road which is opposite the junction and replace it with a block of flats. The flats would share the access with one other house making a total of 15 properties using the driveway. The scheme sparked road safety fears because the junction is very busy, traffic lanes are narrow, visibility is restricted, and there is a history of accidents.
To read the planning officer's report together with the very many objections click here
It is not yet known if the developer, Chartwell, will appeal or submit a revised application.
22 February 2018
New delay raises residents' fears... A decision was expected today on this application to build 14 two bedroomed flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
However, it has been delayed until 6 April while the developers, Chartwell, meet with Surrey County Council's Highways Department.
Nearby residents have expressed concern about the latest turn of events because on 8 January 2018, Surrey Highways sent in this recommendation for refusal of the application to Tandridge District Council: click here
A few weeks later, CCTV appeared on a lamp post outside the fire station facing the junction.
OLRG's Limpsfield Tandridge District Councillor, Phil Davies, queried this with Surrey County Council and was told that the developer had installed it as part of a traffic survey on turning movements. SCC said they not been formally notified of the survey.
A spokesperson added: 'The applicant is not required to notify us - it is only best practice. I have requested that they come back to me with full details as soon as possible and expressed to them my disappointment that neither Tandridge nor Surrey County Council was notified given the level of public interest in this development.'
Comments on the application can still be submitted to Tandridge District Council by emailing comaps@tandridge.gov.uk or by using the comment form on the Council's website or by sending them to the Planning Department, 8 Station Rd East, Oxted RH8 0BT. You should include the application number - 2017/2337 - and your name and address.
The full application can be read on this link click here (please ignore the consultation closing date of 14 December 2017).
9 January 2018
Latest from OLRG's Limpsfield Tandridge District Councillor, Phil Davies, on the Snatts Hill/A25 planning application:
'Surrey County Council told me today that they have sent a recommendation for refusal of this application to Tandridge District Council.
This is it: click here
The application is to build 14 two bedroomed flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
Comments on the application can be submitted to Tandridge District Council by emailing comaps@tandridge.gov.uk or by using the comment form on the Council's website or by sending them to the Planning Department, 8 Station Rd East, Oxted RH8 0BT. You should include the application number - 2017/2337 - and your name and address.
The full application can be read on this link click here (please ignore the consultation closing date of 14 December 2017 as this is not correct).
If you would like more information, you are welcome to contact me at phildavies713@gmail.com"
21 December 2017
Deadline extended for comments on the Snatts Hill/A25 planning application and a new traffic survey to be carried out.
OLRG's Limpsfield Councillor, Phil Davies, has been told by Surrey County Council that the developer, Chartwell, has been asked to carry out a new traffic survey for its application to build 14 two bedroomed flats on Westerham Road with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25.
Cllr Davies said, "The developer has been asked by SCC to redo the traffic survey at a suitable time i.e. not school holidays as was done previously because the figures submitted with the application were not representative. The developer has also been asked to submit traffic accident data as this appears to have been omitted from the application.'
There has been a lot of confusion about the deadline for comments on the application. Tandridge District Council's website says 14 December 2017 but nearby residents said a site notice was only posted the day after that date. Now the Council has said that it will accept comments up until the decision date and that the target decision date is 22 February 2018.
The Council's statement said: "The deadline for submissions identified on the site notice you have pictured is 4 January 2018 which reflects the minimum 21 day consultation period from when a site notice is posted. However, with planning applications we continue to take into account all comments made up until the date of a decision as site notices are just one of the ways we invite comments from the community. The target decision date for this application is 22 February 2018 and as such it is unlikely that a decision will be made in the near future.
We are looking at ways of improving the information on our website about the timescales for determining planning applications and how public consultation fits into the process. If you have any additional questions or would like to speak to the case officer, please contact customerservices@tandridge.gov.uk."
Comments on the application can be submitted by emailing comaps@tandridge.gov.uk or by using the comment form on the Council's website or by sending them to the Planning Department, 8 Station Rd East, Oxted RH8 0BT. You should include the application number - 2017/2337 - and your name and address.
The full application and the very many comments sent in so far, can be read on Tandridge District Council's website on this link click here (please ignore the statement that the consultation ended on 14 Dec 2017)
If you would like more information, you are welcome to contact Councillor Davies at phildavies713@gmail.com or OLRG at oxted.residents@btinternet.com
30 November 2017
Fears over plan for flats by Snatts Hill A25 junction
A planning application has been submitted to Tandridge District Council to build 14 flats with access directly onto the junction of Snatts Hill and the A25. The deadline for comments is 14 December.
The proposal is to demolish one house on Westerham Road which is opposite the junction and replace it with a block of flats. The flats would share the access with one other house making a total of 15 properties using the driveway.
The scheme from developers, Chartwell, has sparked road safety fears because the junction is very busy, traffic lanes are narrow, visibility is restricted and there is a history of accidents. The driveway is next to the fire station and shares a 'keep clear' access point to enable fire engines to exit the station safely.
A traffic survey was carried out on behalf of Chartwell in August during the school holidays without notifying Surrey County Council.
On 15 August, OLRG's Limpsfield Councillor, Phil Davies, raised this with the County Council and was told "I have spoken with our transport studies team, who have confirmed that the counters were put down by Atkins. They did not notify the council that this work was going to happen in this instance.
You are correct in pointing out that the counts are occurring within the school holidays. We would have advised them that in order to be considered acceptable results in support of any future planning application, we would want the counts to occur during the regular school term and to include weekday movements."
