UPDATE 5 Jan 2017: Hewitts Appeal Successful.
UPDATE 25 MAY 2016: Appeal Date issued for 11 October 2016 10am at Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming GU7 1HR
UPDATE: 25 January 2016: An Appeal against the refusal of planning permission for 120 houses has now been lodged by the owners of Hewitts Industrial Estate.
As you are aware Waverley Borough Council refused planning permission for the redevelopment of the site on 30 September 2015. This decision was taken using officers’ delegated powers and was not a decision made by a Planning Committee. The reason for refusal was the loss of an employment site.
Once the administration regarding the appeal has been finalised by the Inspectorate it will consult interested parties. The Cranleigh Society will be consulted as it made representations regarding the planning application.
All of the details that relate to our case are available on the Council’s website under reference WA/2014/2384 and the appeal documents will also be available under this reference in due course.
This is a brownfield site within the settlement boundary surrounded by established residential development and in Flood Zone 1 (low risk of flooding). It has been reported to have reached the end of its life as an industrial estate.
The Council identified the site twice in its Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (2012, and 2014) as being available, suitable and deliverable for residential development. The remaining tenants have been reported to have found accommodation in the vicinity, with the last remaining tenant, moving to new premises at Dunsfold Aerodrome.
Assuming planning permission is granted by the Inspectorate (which appears on paper as likely, as it does meet with a number of the policies set out in National Planning policy and in supporting guidelines) the site is capable of development with five years and can contribute to the Council’s five year housing land supply.
UPDATE 30 September 2015: Waverley Borough Council Officers refused the Application for Hewitts officers under delegated powers, which means that it did not go to the planning committee stage. Owners of the site are still involved in ongoing discussions with Cranleigh’s Waverley Borough Councillors and developers regarding infrastructure contributions. As outlined in the article in the Surrey Advertiser.
1400 Cranleigh residents signed a petition in favour of building on brownfield sites before green fields, in line with the NPPF. This was submitted to Waverley Borough Council on 31 March 2014.
The planning application for Hewitts Industrial Estate has been submitted to Waverley, we are waiting for it to appear on the planning portal (see update below).
Update
The Hewitts application is available on the Waverley Borough Council website Ref WA/2014/2384
The application is for outline planning for 120 dwellings following the demolition of the existing industrial buildings with associated landscaping.
