26 Galsworthy Road, KINGSTON UPON THAMES, KT2 7BS

for outline planning permission for the demolition of existing building and the erection of a new student accommodation building housing 29 student rooms and office with associated cycles, bins and drop-off areas

Authority: Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Other minor developments
Inspector: Jolly J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether there is a need for student accommodation
the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of future occupiers, with particular reference to space standards, communal facilities, daylight and sunlight and ceiling heights
highway safety, including resident parking permits
trees, biodiversity, and air quality
design and accessibility

What decided it

The adverse impacts of the proposal, including failure to demonstrate need for student accommodation, harm to living conditions of future occupiers, highway safety concerns, and missing environmental assessments, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing provision and construction employment.

Although paragraph 11(d) of the Framework is engaged due to the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the adverse impacts of the proposal significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, which include short-term construction and employment benefits and the provision of 29 student studio apartments towards the Council's housing land supply.

Framework references: 11, 130, 111, 131, 174, 186

Plan policies cited: Policy H15 of the London Plan 2021, Policy CS10 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy CS15 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy D6 of the London Plan, Policy DM10 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy DM13 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy T4 of the London Plan, Policy DM9 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy G6 of the London Plan, Policy G7 of the London Plan, Policy SI2 of the London Plan, Policy SI3 of the London Plan, Policy DM6 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy DM12 of the Kingston Core Strategy, Policy D5 of the London Plan, Policy D7 of the London Plan, Policy S12 of the London Plan, Policy S13 of the London Plan, Policy Guidance 46 of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames Residential Design Supplementary Planning Document 2013

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.