Beales Lane plans cause concern for residents

Plans for a three storey block of 17 flats and 11 houses in Beales Lane, with 53 bedrooms, are being considered by Elmbridge Borough Council (application 2019/0386).

Bigger, higher, denser, closer to road

The new block would replace the existing St Catherine’s buildings (lacking merit but inconspicuous, total 27 bedrooms) with a taller block of more than twice the mass, with its bulk much closer to the road.

See the photo and plans above to get a feel for the proposed scale. It is 55% higher from ground to rooftop compared with present, towards the Thames St end.

The plans propose parking spaces for 28 cars behind the block, accessed via a height-limited entrance mid-building.
The style of the proposed building is quite unlike other properties in north Weybridge. Some residents feel strongly that it is wrong for the location.

Many are concerned about the excessive bulk, and negative impact of the proposed development on the streetscene, traffic and parking – that it would transform the character of Beales Lane, and not in a good way.

Open, light, green and small scale

Residents are worried that the character of Beales Lane will be lost.  Beales Lane is green and open towards its Thames Street end. The St Catherine’s buildings are low and mostly set well back. Their layout is staggered so it doesn’t impose.

The houses opposite are a traditionally styled 1998 development, in keeping with the character of Weybridge.

It is currently a pleasant suburban lane, leading to the historic small cottages of Church Walk.

Below we list some objections to the development plans, raised by local residents.

How to give Elmbridge your views

Comments to Elmbridge Borough Council are invited by 29 March, but will be accepted after that. The application will be decided by the South Area Planning Sub-committee.  To register your comments, search for 2019/0386 at www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning

It is helpful if objections are on grounds that relate to relevant planning legislation / relevant sections of EBC Local Plan. Below are relevant issues of worry to local residents. We list things that Elmbridge Borough Council must consider in deciding planning application 2019/0386:

• Oppressive bulk and mass
  • The proposed development is EXCESSIVELY MASSIVE compared with neighbouring properties
  • It is taller, with its bulk closer to the pavement, and would dominate a road that is currently open and spacious
  • Its bulk and mass would be excessive for this suburban site.
  • Beales Lane leads to the historic riverside small scale cottages of Church Walk, the contrast is stark
• Lack of fit with local streetscene
  • The proposed is quite unlike other buildings in the area, in appearance and style as well as scale
  • North Weybridge is characterised by Victorian/Edwardian dwellings with traditional roofs and lots of gables
  • The proposed vertical and rectangular lines might look fine as worker accommodation in Rotterdam, but don’t fit well here
  • It would have a very negative visual impact, transforming Beales Lane
    • from a light, open, airy road with chimneys the highest points & St Catherine’s largely set well back
    • to a visually narrower street dominated by a high, massive, alien building along its south edge
• Excessive density
  (not a likely winner, given current pressure for increasing density, but worth arguing)
  • This is a much higher density than neighbouring dwellings
  • It squeezes a large volume of habitable space (11 new houses and 17 new flats, 53 bedrooms) onto the site
  • The floor area and number of bedrooms doubles
• Loss of privacy
  • Neighbouring residents are concerned about loss of privacy, especially in their back gardens
• Loss of light
  • Neighbouring residents are concerned that the proposed high building will block their light. Some question the measurements supplied in the application, for the height of windows opposite.

• Impact on safe traffic flow, safe delivery access, and safe manoeuvring, given lack of turning space
  (This is a Surrey matter, so it is worth also writing to our SCC councillor, tim.oliver@surreycc.gov.uk, on this aspect)
  • Beales Lane is directly opposite the entrance to St George’s Junior School, so there are special safety factors
  • As sheltered elderly housing (27 bedrooms), there were previously very few residents’ vehicles associated with St Catherine’s
  • Beales Lane/Church Walk is a cul-de-sec with no turning circle
  • It gives resident and delivery access to circa 43 homes (apart from St Catherine’s)
  • Delivery and traffic flow would be greatly increased by 17 new flats and 11 new houses (53 bedrooms)
  • Currently the St Catherine’s visitor parking space is used for turning by delivery vehicles and visitors
  • It is heavily used at school drop-off/pick-up times (scores of vehicles using it to turn)
  • The proposed design would remove current turning facilities, and mean vehicles having to reverse, even into Thames Street, risking safety of pedestrians including school children and obstructing traffic flow
  • The design does not allow headroom for vehicles higher than approx 2.5 metres to access the rear parking, so big delivery and removals vans would have to park up obstructing narrow Beales Lane
• Impact on parking
  • 28 parking spaces are proposed to serve 28 dwellings  (9 x 1 bed; 13 x 2 bed; 6 x 3 bed)
  • 40.5 spaces would be required to meet Elmbridge Parking Standards:
    • Development Management Plan – Appendix 3: Elmbridge Parking Standards (DM21 – Access and Parking)
      1 bed residential unit : 1 space per unit
      2 bed residential unit : 1.5 spaces per unit
      3 bed residential unit : 2 spaces per unit

Learn more and register your comments

The number of people who comment is crucial to the future of Beales Lane and Church Walk.

Search for 2019/0386 at www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning.

Comments to Elmbridge BC are invited by 29 March, but will be accepted after that.  Use the comment form on the EBC website or email tplan@elmbridge.gov.uk.

The application will be considered by councillors on Elmbridge Borough Council South Area Planning Sub-committee.

If you feel it is important that they are all aware of your comments, you can email them directly:

Cllr Barry Cheyne (Chair)                            Oatlands and Burwood Park
Cllr Mrs Dorothy Mitchell (Vice Chair) Cobham and Downside
Cllr James Browne                                         Cobham and Downside
Cllr Andrew Burley                                          Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
Cllr Oliver Chappell                                         Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
Cllr Andrew Davis                                            Weybridge Riverside
Cllr Michael Freeman                                      Weybridge Riverside
Cllr Peter Harman                                            Weybridge St George’s Hill
Cllr David Lewis                                                 Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
Cllr Mrs Charu Sood                                         Weybridge St George’s Hill

bcheyne@elmbridge.gov.uk; dmitchell@elmbridge.gov.uk; jbrowne@elmbridge.gov.uk; aburley@elmbridge.gov.uk; ochappell@elmbridge.gov.uk; adavis@elmbridge.gov.uk; mfreeman@elmbridge.gov.uk; pharman@elmbridge.gov.uk; dlewis@elmbridge.gov.uk; csood@elmbridge.gov.uk;

Traffic and parking issues are the responsibility of Surrey County Council, who will prepare a consultation report in relation to planning application EBC 2019/0386.

The Surrey County Councillor for Weybridge is Tim Oliver
tim.oliver@surreycc.gov.uk

You can download a pdf copy of our March 2019 newsletter about application 2019/0386 here