by admin | Feb 12, 2023 | Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan, Housing
Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan
In 2010 The Government thought that if people had the chance to shape where housing could be built in each village and town in advance of planning applications, the housing would be built out more quickly! So we have to develop a Neighbourhood Plan. Click Here to complete a consultation on the latest version – ours is still not agreed by a Government inspector.
Planning Laws
Our Planning Laws are complex and subject to the directives of central government at any given time. We elect volunteer Councillors at 3 levels here in Cranleigh, and we pay for Officers at those councils to do their best on our behalf. They, in turn, pay for outside consultants when their expertise is not enough to answer complex problems. There is no sign of Dunsfold being built at the moment – the access road was a separate planning application – this is a problem for Waverley as they have to show the Government that they are allowing enough new housing into the borough.
As you know every county has experienced house building explosions on an epic scale for many years – certainly, I remember, a government minister in 2007 proclaiming that we must build millions of new homes because we have millions of new people in Britain. An interesting point to make is that ‘they say’ a country that is building is thriving – financially…….. you may take issue with that ideal!
Historical context
Our village appeared hundreds of years ago because it was in a cut between wooded hills and had plenty of fresh water for crops and animals. So all buildings have had to take the watercourses into account which are under or alongside most roads. The osier beds were used to grow willow for basketmaking. Cranes prefer wet areas and were frequent visitors, leading to the name Cranley….
So what can our planning authority – Waverley Borough Council – WBC – do within the laws ?
The officers examine an application on our behalf and advise the councillors about the legality of the application. They in turn examine it and vote on it. They also listen to the public. BUT many, many applications win on appeal – which is a legal process.
Infrastructure
Provision of fresh water, sewerage systems, electricity, doctors, school places, and ability to drive around the roads, parking, broadband, mobile phone signals and bus services.
There are legal obligations on all infrastructure providers to catch up with developments, but Cranleigh has yet to be serviced appropriately since the new housing has been built out. Our councils can’t control the build out rate, or the rate at which tax money comes in per agreements (section 106, CIL and others) and can sometimes loose the promised cash for projects such as upgrading the High Street!
Gas boilers are being phased out
The Government has said that new housing can no longer be fitted with gas boilers after 2025, so any developments before then will probably have them! Recently new housing has not included alternative sources of energy – how can that be right? Retrofitting is so distressing!
When commenting on a planning application on line or by letter – WBC
‘What to include in your objection or support
We have a statutory duty to take into account the Local plan and any other material considerations. These might include issues such as:
- loss of light
- overlooking / loss of privacy
- parking / loading / turning issues
- increase in traffic
- noise and disturbance
- loss of trees
- road access
- proposals in the local plan
- previous appeal decisions
- local, strategic, regional and national planning policies.
What cannot be considered
- matters controlled under building regulations or other non-planning laws
- private issues between neighbours
- loss of value of property
- problems with the construction period of any works
- unproven health implications.’
We have met and enjoyed the company of many newcomers recently and in no way wish to make them feel unwelcome! We have heard about footpaths not being built as promised, in particular, which has caused great distress.
That’s all for now folks, thank you for being on our mail list and for reading – you can comment below.
by admin | Nov 2, 2022 | Cranleigh, Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan, Knowle Lane
Knowle Lane has plenty of green fields left – but look here to explore a new housing development idea.
Cranleigh Society looks at all the planning rules to find any that can be held up as applicable, with the aim of reducing stress on our village and its community.
Neighbour responses: this is a big one for us. The voice of the community helps us and our councillors to understand the concerns locally and will often try to make our statements reflect those views if they comply with a relevant condition in planning rules.
Our planning laws are so difficult to get around once a government says build more houses. The councillors aren’t allowed to enter into chats before planning applications are put forward because if they did they wouldn’t be allowed to vote. The reason is this – by the time an application is put before councillors our paid officers work on the application with the current laws in mind and state whether there are planning reasons to turn it down or not. Once the councillors hear and read all this information only then are they allowed to vote.
Here are some planning guidelines – planners and councillors have to look at these things –
The impact on any planning item e.g. when this item is applied for – it isn’t yet – land south of Cranleigh and East of Knowle Lane. You can play with Surrey County Council Interactive map – click here – to see that Cranleigh has no protections such as Green Belt or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The current Parish Boundaries don’t protect this either.
The Cranleigh neighbourhood plan, recently proved (as opposed to approved) for having met and exceeded the minimum requirement for housing allocations by Waverley.
The Cranleigh neighbourhood plan conditions for all developments needing to take place within the residential curtilage, as set by current clauses and maps. ( Out of interest only, this development falls outside this)
Referrals to Natural England and other nature conservation agencies for impact on wildlife and amenity.
Surrey Highways: though we can do little more than review their assessment here. Challenges to the veracity of their assessment have little impact, if any. We have no science to back up challenges to their statements, though we can, of course, question the formulas used to assess traffic movement and sight lines. Having said that, we are not limited in our comments by this and are entitled to state our opinion if a matter is of concern. We do this often.
Water infrastructure: similarly to Highways, we have very little we can challenge. We have anecdotal evidence, and will use it if it is appropriate, but the developers will simply refer to the assessments of the water agencies for legality.
Town & Country Planning Act regulations: too complicated to go into detail here, but we thoroughly review applicable conditions and often assess the planning condition statement’s made by developers. They will often only quote the part of the statutes and approved plans that suit their application and not those parts that don’t.
by admin | Oct 23, 2019 | Cranleigh, Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan
- Notification of the publication of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Development Plan under Regulation 16 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended)
As you have been consulted by Cranleigh Parish Council on previous versions of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan, we are now writing to formally notify you of the publication of the above plan and invite you to make representations.
Details of the Plan Proposal
Cranleigh Parish Council as the qualifying body has prepared a neighbourhood development plan for its parish, entitled the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan, with the help of the local community. The plan covers the period from 2018 to 2032 and sets out a vision for the future of the parish, housing allocations and planning policies that will be used to determine planning applications locally.
Where and when the Plan can be inspected
Copies of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Development Plan and supporting documentation are available to view on the Waverley Borough Council website at www.waverley.gov.uk/CranleighNP.
Hard copies of the plan and submission documents are available for inspection at
- Planning Reception, Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1HR between 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm Friday.
- Cranleigh Parish Council, Village Way, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8AF between 9:30am to 12:30pm, Monday to Friday.
- Cranleigh Library. For opening times, see surreycc.gov.uk/librariesHow to make representations
- visit waverley.gov.uk/CranleighNP
- Email planningpolicy@waverley.gov.uk
- Write to Planning Policy, Planning Services, Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, GU7 1HR
Please view our privacy notice before making a representation.
This consultation period runs for 6 weeks from 18th October to 29th November, 11.59p.m.
Notification
Any representations may include a request to be notified of Waverley Borough Council’s decision under Regulation 19 to make the neighbourhood development plan.
The regulations require that any representations made during the consultation period must be submitted to the Independent Examiner appointed to examine the Neighbourhood Plan. Therefore, comments cannot be treated as confidential and will be made publicly available, attributed to your name and/or organisation, however personal details will not be published
by admin | Mar 15, 2019 | Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan
Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan has been published in draft form by Cranleigh Parish Council.
It’s time to comment – this weekend! – make your views felt. On line at Cranleigh Parish Council or in their office (mornings) in Village Way.
www.cranleigh-pc.gov.uk see below
What does it say? It shows the new outline of the Village, and the places where housing is being built and can be built in the future. There are comments about design and infrastructure. Have a read and examine the pictures.
This is the Response of the Cranleigh Civic Society to the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan.
- Overview of Plan
The Plan is a very detailed, thorough and professional document that has benefited from the multiple consultations with the Cranleigh Community.
There are 21 POLICIES IN BLUE PANELS to agree to. There are many maps and photos to support the descriptions that lead to the policies.
Cranleigh Society – Specific Comments
- Dates
The Plan should state the formal start date of the Plan, since the allocation and monitoring of 1,700 houses in the Waverley Local Plan is central to the strategy. Is the year Fiscal or Calendar for accuracy ?
- Planning Approvals
The Plan should include a table of all the major Planning Approvals since the start date, stating the number of Affordable houses and number of Houses and Flats included for each development, with Windfall Approvals shown separately. The table should show the number of houses completed for each site at a given date. Any desired reductions in numbers of affordable homes on a development should be supported by a report from the developer and be audited as being accurately prepared by an independent quantity surveying firm acceptable to Cranleigh Parish Council.
- Incremental Houses
The Plan should include a policy on how applications should be treated for houses that are incremental to the required 1,700, with the priority policy for these incremental houses.
- House Size
The Plan should have a policy on the proportion of different house sizes : 1, 2,3 or 4 bed sizes and the proportion of affordable houses plus reasonably low rents and purchase prices.
5. Make Cranleigh SMART
The plan should include requirements to ensure support for those people with additional needs, the elderly, those who depend on wheels – wheelchairs, pushchairs, cycles, and provide for young people – for example on skateboards etc. too
So – what would YOU add ? here are the links to make your voice heard
COPIED FROM CRANLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL’S WEBSITE – “CRANLEIGH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN NOW AT REGULATION 14 CONSULTATION
12 February 2019
After a lot of hard work our plan is now at a crucial stage and we need you to let us know what you think.
The plan has been developed from all the comments we have received so far and is now at the official Regulation 14 stage. You can read more about the stages of a Neighbourhood Plan here.
We are now consulting on this version of the plan, and its associated evidence base, to make sure that it reflects the aspirations of the local community whilst meeting its legal requirements and constraints before it is then submitted to Waverley Borough Council.
We are seeking views and comments from everyone that has an interest in the parish. Views and comments may relate to the proposed policies, the content/wording of the plan, whether the evidence base is appropriate/correct or whether anything is missing from the plan. If your comments do not fit into one of these categories please don’t worry – send us your comments anyway as we value your thoughts.
The deadline for submissions is 5.00pm on Tuesday 26 March 2019.
How do I comment?
You can submit your comments online clicking here or by using the forms here/Your_comments_25220.aspx PDF and Word versions of the form are available. If you have any problems filling in this form please get in touch.
Email your completed form to clerk@cranleigh-pc.gov.uk or post it to Cranleigh Parish Council, Council Office, Village Way, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8AF. It is really important that you tell us what you think.
What is this Consultation?
This consultation which you are invited to take part in is a formal public consultation in accordance with Regulation 14 Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. It is a six-week consultation which runs from Tuesday 12 February 2019 until 5.00pm on Tuesday 26 March 2019.”
by Sue Dale | Feb 14, 2019 | Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan
You are needed to respond!!!! to Cranleigh’s Neighbourhood Plan!
it’s the final draft and now it’s up to the public to agree it – our councillors have done the work as required by the Government. Thame was first some years ago – now it’s our turn at last!
Go to Cranleigh Parish Council website, click on Neighbourhood Plan, then look right and click on 19.02.06 – Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan – Reg 14 Version Amended. You can provide your feedback using this survey before the deadline of 26th March 2019.
****EXCITING NEWS**** Cranleigh’s Neighbourhood Plan has reached a formal stage (Regulation 14). The plan is available via link below for you to look through (right hand side of the page – The Draft Neighbourhood Plan (Reg 14) button). **WE NEED YOU** to let us know what you think about anything whatsoever in the plan. No comment too small or too large!
There is a Comments form (Word and pdf version available via the Your Comments (Reg 14) button on the website) which can be filled in and emailed to clerk@cranleigh-pc.gov.uk or print it off and drop the completed form into the Council offices on Village Way, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8AF, or you can post it to us.
Cranleigh Parish Council is also having a drop in session on Thursday 07 March 2019 in the Village Hall from 9.00am through to 8.00pm if you want to chat things through with us.
This is where we came in folks – 9 Oct 2014 – CCS inaugural meeting because the NP process was not helping – But now it may be possible to stop further dramatic changes.
by Sue Dale | Feb 10, 2019 | Anne Milton, CCS meet ups, Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan, Cranleigh Parish Council, Flooding, Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council
Cranleigh Society News 9 Feb 2019
Firstly – Social – join us at The Three Horseshoes pub on Monday 11th Feb, any time from 6.30pm – let’s share a drink, chat and action plans too. There is always an option to buy meals or snacks too.
Next – Cranleigh Society asks – What would YOU say and want to know from Waverley if you were sitting in a room with their undivided attention? Our next meeting is coming up.
Soon – What would YOU ask MP Anne Milton when she next comes to Cranleigh? Flood forum – Friday 22nd March 10.30am Band Room – VERY Important YOU attend. We will provide information sheets and hope to sort out the lack of microphones by then for the Band Room. Let us have your worries and questions please.
Surrey County Council consultations – so here’s the thing – our democracy requires many things such as hard working officers working for the community and elected Councillors, such as consultations – when they get to points where they can see a large impact on communities – and they have to count them and take their views into account. So if we don’t write in etc. we don’t count!!! Please go onto the Website for Surrey County Council consultations and read what they have put up. BTW – if ever you can’t – please go to the library and ask for help with the computers there – it’s your right and this too could be taken away if not used enough.
Cranleigh Parish Council – all public are welcome to their meetings – and there is a moment in those meetings when the councillors are free to discuss matters more openly when the public are excluded – reasonably. Local planning applications are considered by members of the Planning Committee on a three weekly basis. The Planning List of planning applications to be considered by the Committee is displayed at the Council Offices. Look at their web site – meetings for dates – they change!
There are twelve Parish Councillors who take an active part in village life and who are elected to represent the community. The Council has adopted a Business Plan for the period 2019 – 2023 which can be viewed here. CPC looks after many amenities – Snoxhall fields, village Hall, Cemetery, Allotments, and also lists information about ROAD CLOSURES, REPORTING FLOODING, DEFIBRILLATOR, FIRST RESPONDERS.
Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan is up for reading and commenting up – please see their web site – click the top tab Neighbourhood plan, then Draft, then Regulation 14 consultation!
FLOOD ALERTS – GOV.UK WEB SITE – https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings
Thank you for reading this far – please do join in
