®Planning appeal decision
Land to the North and South of Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6JT
Demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site for a phased mixed-use scheme, comprising 929 residential units (Class C3), communal residential and operational spaces, commercial uses (Classes A1/A2/A3/A4/B1/D1/D2) at ground floor and homeless shelter (sui generis) within 5 blocks of varying heights of between 9 and 37 storeys (including rooftop amenity) to the north and south sides of the site together with hard and soft landscaping including public realm works, highway alterations to Goldsworth Road, car parking, cycle parking, bin storage, ancillary facilities and plant
- Authority
- Woking Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Braithwaite J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of nearby residents, with regard to daylight and privacy
What decided it
The Inspector concluded that the proposed development, including its tallest buildings, would not cause harm to character and appearance or to neighbours' living conditions and accorded with the up-to-date development plan's encouragement of tall buildings in the town centre.
No planning balance exercise was required because the Inspector found the proposal would not cause any harm; the Inspector noted in passing the considerable benefits (929 homes, affordable housing, S106 contributions of nearly £10 million, WRAC and YRP facilities) that would have been weighed had harm been found.
Framework references: 11, 68
Plan policies cited: Policy CS1, Policy CS2, Policy CS21, Policy CS24, Policy CS10, Policy CS7, Policy CS8, Policy CS9, Policy CS16, Policy DM7, Site Allocation UA10, Site Allocation UA11, Site Allocation UA12, Site Allocation UA13
Judgments cited: R v Yeovil B C (1972) 23 P&CR 39; Spackman v Wiltshire C C and SoS for the Environment (1977) 33 P&CR 430
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.