160 new homes approved despite density concerns
COUNCILLORS say they worry about the “rabbit hutches” people are expected to live in after 160 homes were narrowly approved for Frimley Green.
One said he thought the density of the Berkeley scheme, to be built on the old Mitie site in Sturt Road, was “broaching insanity”.
The development was recommended for approval by officers and Surrey Heath Borough Council’s planning committee agreed to it on Thursday by just one vote, although many worried about the quality of life occupants would have.
Berkeley Homes said it is complying with all space requirements, but Cllr Graham Tapper (LD, Heatherside) said: “The density here is broaching, in my opinion, insanity.
“We’re just getting higher and higher and higher, and this one if accepted will then be used as an excuse or reason for permitting development in the future of even greater densities. At what point do we draw the line and say, this far and no further? This is people, families we’re talking about here.”
The scheme offers 84 flats – 36 onebedroom and 48 two-bedroom, plus 76 houses – 30 two-bedroom, 37 three-bedroom and nine four-bedroom, in buildings ranging from two to four storeys.
Density is 47 dwellings per hectare (dph), ranging from 17 to 32 dph for the houses and 55 dph for the flats. This compares with 27 dph at Frimley’s Ridgewood Centre development, and 37 dph at the Water’s Edge Mytchett development.
Cllr Valerie White (Con, Bagshot) said: “Why do we have to cram so much in to such a small space? I find it quite sad that people are being forced to live in such small housing areas now.”
The borough council’s last local plan indicated 99 homes were suitable for the site near Frimley Lodge Park. Some 160 will now be built there.
Cllr Tapper added: “We’re back into Woodside Cottage all over again, where the land was permitted in the local plan for the development of 15 houses and the developer proposed 43.
“I just do not see why we’ve got a local plan if we’re simply going to play fast and loose with them.”
There was also disappointment with the 15 affordable homes planned, which amounts to 9.4% rather than the 35% outlined in council policy.
Cllr Robin Perry (Con, Town) said: “If we built larger houses with larger plots they would inevitably cost a lot more, which is completely the opposite of trying to get more affordable homes.”
He said if councillors turned down the application they would lose on appeal “and that’s going to cost the council a lot of money”.
Cllr Tapper responded: “What’s the point of this committee if we can’t discuss anything and think about turning it down on grounds which we think are perfectly reasonable?”
Officers advised that reasons members gave for refusal – over-development, density and insufficient private amenity space in keeping with council guidance – were not defensible.
Cllr Victoria Wheeler (Ind, Windlesham & Chobham) argued that there had been occasions where reasons said by officers not to be defensible had proved to be in a planning appeal.
Zena Foale-Banks, of Nexus Planning, said: “Every home proposed meets or exceeds the nationally described space standards in terms of internal floorspace. Similarly, all private gardens and amenity space are consistent with the requirements.
“I can say without hesitation that this is a good scheme. The proposal strikes a balance between making efficient use of the space available, providing high quality housing, well-designed public spaces and sufficient parking.”
Cllr Sashi Mylvaganam (LD, Frimley Green) disagreed, saying traffic from the “rabbit hutches” would “spill out onto the road” and something needed to be done about the road before building began or it was going to “cause the community one big problem”.
Alister Mogford, who lives close to the railway bridge, said the developer should be persuaded to build a tunnel for pedestrians to remove dependency on cars. He added the narrow pavement beneath the bridge was a “permanent and physical barrier to the disabled and parents with double buggies” that meant “every house with school age children will need two cars”.
Members were told the scheme’s 276 car parking spaces exceeded the 206 required by the county council.
Berkeley is to contribute £195,000 towards a local flood relief scheme, and the Victorian pumphouse building is to be refurbished into three apartments.
Every home is to have an air source heat pump, though the agent could not confirm how many properties would have photovoltaic panels. Members asked the applicant to consider how to better screen parking and to provide a new southbound layby bus stop near the entrance of Frimley Lodge Park.