Plans for 26 homes on car park near Surrey station thrown out
Plans for 26 homes on a car park have been thrown out.
Applicants Solum will have to go back to the drawing board as its vision for ‘sought after place to live’ near Walton station was rejected.
Planning officers said the scheme was “cluttered” and “visually awkward” in a damning rejection letter.
Elmbridge Borough Council staff said the “poor design” of the terrace-like houses would “fail” to blend or enhance the local character which could actually harm the appearance of the area.
Solum put forward plans for the 250-lot car park to be transformed into 26 two-storey houses with rooms in the roof.
Each family home would have a private, south-facing garden and parking, as well as cycling spaces and bins.
Officers also said the application for the Mayfield Road car park in Hersham fails to demonstrate the site is “safe for a lifetime” and does not increase flood risk anywhere.
Planning staff flagged the development could harm important trees next to the site, meaning they could be forced to be cut down or pruned, changing the leafy character of the area.
They criticised the lack of detail around whether the plans would harm the biodiversity at the site.
Planning officers gave pre-application advice to Solum who made “minor changes”.
But they still found the housing development would “appear cramped, and the continuous nature of the terrace and cloned design of the buildings would be unattractive”.
Over 40 people slammed the scheme for taking away much needed car parking spaces for commuters and rail users.
Others said the new homes will increase congestion in the areas and cause stress on parking.
But supporters of the plan claim it would have provided much needed three-bedroom houses in the area to keep local families close to home.
Some residents said building on the car park, a brownfield site, will protect development on green spaces in other parts of the borough.
Developer Solum was hoping to build on Mayfield Road car park, owned by Network Rail, in Hersham.
The proposal was put forward as a joint-venture between Network Rail and Kier Property to drive developments around stations in London and the South East.
Solum has been asked for comment.