Knowle Lane planning application WA/2023/00294 Appeal
2023-Aug-Knowle-lane-appeal-Renotification_4705833
So here they go again, villagers trying yet again to defend the countryside around them from the threat of further development—a village which suffered water shortages again this week and where traffic congestion clogs its streets.
This time an Outline Application with all matters reserved except access for the erection of up to 162 dwellings (including 30% affordable dwellings) built in up to 3 phases, including access road, pedestrian and cycle accesses, parking, public open space, biodiversity enhancement and landscaping and other associated infrastructure and works.
Application Reference: WA/2023/00294 Planning Inspectorate Reference: APP/R3650/W/23/3326412
https://planning360.waverley.gov.uk:4443/planning/search-applications?civica.query.FullTextSearch=WA%2F2023%2F00294
The applicant claims substantial weight should be given to the early delivery of market housing because Waverley has no five-year housing land supply.
TW is also responsible for removing waste, including during storms, and has admitted it does not have the money or workforce to fix this soon.
Thames Water’s improvement scheme will not be ready until at least 2025/26
The planning application shows housing surrounding current dwellings, including historic buildings, Coldharbour Farm and Redhurst.
Land East of Knowle Lane Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8JN Heritage Impact Assessment Prepared by Roberto Prieto-Labrador MA, PCIfA and Ben Kirk MSc, IHBC document 8797987
The development will include concreting over a hill that acts as a sponge during heavy rains in a village with a history of flooding problems.
Knowle Lane access onto the High Street.
The proposal seeks new vehicular access off Knowle Lane, its location, and visibility splays. However, on behalf of Knowle Lane Neighbourhood Group, Genesis Town Planning has commissioned Bellamy Roberts, Highways and Infrastructure Consultants, to object. It has slammed the proposal, which seeks new vehicular access off Knowle Lane, its location, and visibility splays. It claims the applicant’s data is entirely flawed.
The Consultant argues if the scheme is allowed, it will cause gridlock at the junction of Knowle Lane and Cranleigh High Street.
Currently, the junction of Knowle Lane/ High Street has reached capacity, and any material increase in traffic flows would result in the junction being overloaded, increasing delays, and resulting in severe queuing. The experts claim the scheme should be refused on that basis.
For example, Knowle Lane would experience a maximum queue in 2028 (without development) of 7 vehicles in the morning peak hour.
However, in the same design year with development traffic, the queue would extend to 24 vehicles.
Therefore the junction would be operating at over capacity.
The WW is unsure whether the increased traffic resulting from the 1,800 homes already consented at Dunsfold Park and the extra 425 homes in Alfold are also included.
document 8877936
All representations must be received by 08/09/2023. All representations must quote the appeal reference. Reference: APP/R3650/W/23/3326412
https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk
And you forgot to mention the 300 local objections the council received compared to 2 in support! Surely democracy must prevail…….
We apologise for not mentioning the huge number of objections and the two letters of support. Will local democracy prevail … we very much doubt it judging by the recent Appeal Inspector’s decisions. But we can live in hope.
It is understood that the Planning Inspectorate traces its roots to the Town Planning Act 1909 as such it has been the instrument of implementing many governments’ policies, with limited democratic legitimacy. Conversely, it is difficult to see how the inspectorate is compatible with the rule of law, that requires equality before the law to prevent the arbitrary use of power.
Unjustly, the Planning Inspectorate does not accept appeals from communities harmed by planning decisions. It also upholds the irrational government demand for planning decision speed without concern for capacity. Why is speed necessary for projects with over a 50-year life span? The inspectorate also imposes the planning conditions necessary to make the planning application acceptable knowing that the Local Planning Authority at taxpayers’ expense has the sole obligation for monitoring and enforcing them. It should at least have the legal obligation to agree with the Local Planning Authority that the planning conditions are enforceable.
If nothing else, it would help if the Planning Inspectorate at last recognised their legal obligation to planning for climate resilience and Net Zero. No wonder the inherent planning system bias is designed to fail local communities.