Following an avalanche of local opposition to a scheme that could have signalled the end of The Sayers Croft Rural Centre has been rejected.
However, it may only be for the time being! Is that the distant sound of another Appeal we hear?
The determined owners of Sunnybrook on Ewhurst’s Cranleigh Road have tried, tried, and tried again and will not be deterred from building on the site pictured below.
Government inspectors have refused previous applications, but this time, Waverley Planning Officers supported five self-build properties, which Cllr Kevin Deanus described as…
“Mansions”
Zoe Stroud + The Centre Manager of Sayers Croft Rural Centre, who claimed the centre was “under attack?
However, planning officers supported the scheme, saying it would provide much-needed self-build plots adjacent to the village’s settlement and cause less than demonstrable harm to the area’s character.
However, committee members, including local member Cllr Michael Higgins, countless residents, and the parish council, vehemently opposed a shame that would undermine the Ewhurst Neighbourhood Plan and irreparably damage its famous Rural Centre and the Ewhurst economy.
He dismissed comments by the Developer’s Agents, who claimed builders would add business to the village shop during construction.
Hardly, said Cllr Deanus.
Buying a couple of mars bars in the shop during construction whilst building homes which could destroy the Sayers Croft Rural Centre, which by its very nature is RURAL, wont help will it?
This applicant will try, try and try again until this finally goes through! The neighbours who live around this site will suffer the consequences of sewage overflows just like they do in my own village of Alfold.
He said officers described the plan as abutting the settlement, so it was outside the settlement. He and others claimed that allowing consent would undermine Ewhurst’s hard-worked Neighbourhood Plan. Ignoring the document backed by the village at the Referendum would mock the community planning system.
I sincerely hope that if this application goes to Appeal by Government Planning inspectors who do everything via desk top and very rarely visit the location, that the Government (whoever wins on 4 July) will prevent this application from going through. Sayers Croft is a vital educational establishment that must be protected at all costs. Whoever the planning officer at Waverley BC supported the development needs his or her head examined thankfully in this instance the Elected Councillors stood up to the officers and said a very loud and resounding NO
Wholeheartedly agree. If all those residents and the parish council asked to have a Rule 8 participant to represent them should there be an appeal, it would most certainly help. Keep in touch and let us know what occurs and we will watch out foe an appeal notice. Tghen we will rally the objectors and put up a good fight. The SCRC must not be damaged any further to satisfy housing need when the largest brownfield site in the borough is about to come on stream. 2,600 homes at Dunsfold park.
Why on earth this was recommended for approval by planning officers – heavens only knows! A decision probably driven by fear of yet another appeal!
No chance dunsfold is coming forward anytime soon; have you seen the contamination reports? The borough needs more housing and the short sightedness of the Council and its Councillors are jeopordising everyone.