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For years Tandridge Council’s long term planning policy has been against building on the Green Belt. Because of this most of us believed the field at the end of
Wheeler Avenue (Stoneyfield) and the field behind Bluehouse Lane were safe from developers. That’s changing.
There are plans to build on these fields. One scheme is for 400 houses on Stoneyfield which is designated as part of an “Area of Great Landscape
Value”. Another is for 250 houses on the Bluehouse Lane field.
For details go to Bluehouse Lane and
Stoneyfield, Wheeler Avenue
The plans
The plans have been submitted by Village Developments to the council’s Core Strategy consultation. That’s the ten year development plan for the district
and it has to be passed by the planning Inspectorate in Bristol. The Council’s is arguing that it has no need to build on the Green Belt. It can meet it’s present housing targets quite easily without touching
it. But the developers are using this planning process to attack the policy and get a direct route through to the Inspector to persuade him to open up the Green Belt for development.
What can happen
The developers are trying to persuade the Inspector that the Council’s plan is wrong. They want these specific sites included in the final document.
1. The worst scenario: The Inspector decides that the strategy isn’t “sound” without the inclusion of these sites. If that happens it seems to us
that it will be very hard for the Council to resist any subsequent planning application.
2. Bad but not disastrous: The Inspector suspends his examination and asks the council to list all potential building sites in the area including those in the Green
Belt. These sites will be high up the list because they are so close to town.
3. If neither of these happens we still aren’t safe but we’re a lot better off.
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Considerations
Oxted and Limpsfield cannot absorb building on this scale. There are enough problems already. The schools are full, surgeries stretched, roads congested. That’s
apart from the environmental damage and the loss of the town’s green “lungs”. Most of us moved here for the charm, character and rural feel.
Meeting on Wednesday 3rd April 2.00pm
The first stage of the Inspector’s involvement is an exploratory meeting being held at Tandridge Council offices on the 3rd April at 2:00 pm. At this he will
decide whether to reject the council’s plan. Of all the people who took part in the preceding consultation the Inspector has selected those he wants to address him. He has asked Village Developments to speak six times
and Asprey Homes five times – far more than anyone else. Of the 56 allocated speeches, 27 are by named developers. Of the rest, many appear to be agents of developers and are intent on attacking the Green Belt.
Because these plans are causing such widespread alarm the council leader, Gordon Keymer, is making a special request to the Inspector to be allowed to speak. It is up
to the Inspector to say if he can. The councillors are doing their best, but they are under the cosh and they need our help.
What you can do. Public meeting; please attend!
This is a public meeting
and we urge you all to attend. We need to show the Inspector that we don’t want to lose our Green Belt fields and we don’t like developers manipulating the process. If we don’t make our views known there is little chance of saving Oxted & Limpsfield.
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1.0 Building on the Green Belt
What did you learn at the first meeting? Tell the
Webmaster or make your comments on CHATTERBOX. See pictures of the public turnout at TDC offices here
Under discussion are
1.1 250 Homes Development for
Bluehouse Lane?
An application has been made to Tandridge District Council for a new development of 250 housing units on 15.8 acres
of Greenbelt land to the north of Laverock School. This application takes the form of a Scoping Report on behalf of
Village Developments plc, which has to be considered by the planners within a statutory period. The report was submitted in February 2008. You can view the Apppendix 2 as a web page (minus maps and pics) by clicking here.
To see or download the pdf, click here.
1.2 400 Homes Development for
Wheeler Avenue?
A similar application to the above has been made in respect of the 26.4 acres of farming land between Wheeler
Avenue, Barrow Green Road and St. Mary’s Church graveyard. 400 affordable and low cost housing units are proposed. You can view Appendix 1 as a web page (minus maps and pics) by clicking here. To see or download the pdf, click here. If these are only Appendices, where are the parent documents? Can anybody help?
Arguments of all sides have been heard. The matter is now in the hands of Mr. Vickery , the Inspector, who will pronounce his decision in September. 5th September 2008. Core Strategy declared sound.
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What do you think of the decision? Tell the
Webmaster or make your comments on CHATTERBOX. See pictures of the public turnout at TDC offices in April 2008 here
Concerned about housing development?
Then consider joining the
Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group.
This has been formed to collect residents’ views regarding housing development and to present them to the authorities. The Group is not designed to replace
individuals’ submissions but rather to discover the facts relating to developers’ Applications, the position of Tandridge District Council and the position of other bodies
involved in local planning decisions such as The Planning Inspectorate. Sometimes the official documents require expert interpretation.
www.oxtedlimpsfieldresidents.co.uk
www.saveoxtedsgreenbelt.co.uk is campaign to save Oxted’s Green Belt.
Read the archive here
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1.0 Demolition and erection of flat complexes.
2.1 Tandridge Council approved the scheme for demolition of two houses in Church Lane to be replaced by two blocks of 19 flats on 3 levels.
Does this give the green light for demolition of more houses in Church Lane to be replaced by 55 flats?
On the evening of Thursday 21st February 2008, the public area of the Council Chamber in Oxted was filled to overflowing.
Despite strong objections to the scheme by local residents, Tandridge Council has decided to approve the Wren Homes planning application subject to the
developers meeting one condition. The condition being that Wren Homes provide safe pedestrian crossing before the scheme commences.
Is this development going ahead? There does not seem to be much activity on site.
1.2 Application 2007/1449, 23-27a, Church Lane, Oxted
"Demolition of dwellings. erection of 2/3 storey block comprising 55 flats (48 x 1 bed and 7 x 2 bed) with staff
accommodation for extra care housing with refuse and buggy store, formation of vehicular access and parking."?
Read full details by clicking this link. Church Lane. Refused.
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Wren Homes has appealed against the refusal of their Application. If this is not what you’d like to see,
you have until 27th March to object to this development. Read more
1.3 Application to demolish the house at 20 Church Lane, Oxted and to build a block of 5 flats on three storeys.
1.4 Application for demolition of 41 Bluehouse Lane and building of two blocks of flats. Refused but has gone to appeal.
1.5 Developers also have plans for more extensive development in Bluehouse Lane and Granville Road.
1.6 Another scheme is for 14 town houses in another part of Bluehouse Lane.
Is the Council out of step with the wants and needs of Oxted & Limpsfield residents
Have your say on CHATTERBOX.
It is not just Oxted & Limpsfield which are under threat. Read the Press Release from Peter Ainsworth MP.
You will see who has made the Applications and for where. Click here
Most difficult to find on the Tandridge DC site is planning application. Click this link for a direct line TDC Planning
July 2008 REDHILL AERODROME.
The first of the Green Belt sites to come under direct attack is Redhill Aerodrome. Two planning applications have been submitted to Tandridge District Council - it's believed that both are
aimed at getting the site removed from the Green Belt with a view to building 2000 houses. The group 'Keep Redhill Airfield Green' and Nutfield residents, who helped in the battle to support the Council's Core
Strategy which protects the Green Belt, are anxious that objectors write in to Tandridge District Council. The closing date for letters or emails of objection was 24th July. The first of the planning applications is
for a HARD ALL-WEATHER RUNWAY WITH ASSOCIATED WORKS to replace the grass airstrip - application number TA/2008/779.
Second application: EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
Application number TA/2008/100
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 Chalkpit lorry problem. Current issue is the proposed HGV route through Limpsfield Village. There was a meeting on 5th
September. What was the outcome?
Would you like lorries this this turning into Detillens Lane? Or ‘sharing’ Bluehouse Lane with the school coaches?
The attack on the Green Belt.
TDC Core Strategy declared sound. Read the TDC Press Release and more here
Oxted & Limpsfield development issues have been moved here. In doing so, it does not
imply that this is of little importance; on the contrary. Moving it releases space for day-to-day news.
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Wolfs Hill development.
News from WHAC
(Wolfs Hill Action Committee)
There is still interest by developers, with some property understood to have made agreements with developers. Please see their web-site for more details
www.whac.me.uk
If you have something to say, air your views on Chatterbox. Info from 01883 714625
Glebe Fields Housing Development?
This issue is not dead. If there is anything new it will be posted here. Read more to see if it concerns you. Have your say on Chatterbox. If you are concerned with the degree of development in the area, say so.0
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