PLANNING APPLICATION RECOMMENDED FOR REFUSAL

Allotment Garden bounded by Woodend, Greenhill and Aultone Way and part of 42 Woodend Sutton SM1 3LJ

Application No: B2015/73359/FUL

The proposal to develop the former allotments with five 4 – bedroomed and four 5 – bedroomed two storey detached houses with roof accommodation together with car parking (18 spaces plus 6 visitors spaces); with provision of communal lawn and reinstatement of allotments has been RECOMMENDED FOR REFUSAL by Sutton Council.  As a result the application has been WITHDRAWN by the applicant.

Your ward councillors had discussions with Planning Officers as we wanted to indicate our concern with this application.  The application did not comply with Council planning policies on Urban Green Space and was in a Conservation Area. The planning officers indicated that they would recommend REFUSAL of the application on the following grounds:

• the proposal is out of character and fails to respect the character and appearance of the Conservation Area;
• design of the properties;
• inadequate mitigation for the loss of urban green space;
• potential adverse impact on protected trees; and
• adverse impact on the biodiversity of the site without adequate mitigation.

The application had also been opposed by Historic England. It is possible for planning permission to be granted on Urban Green Space (which this allotment land is) provided sufficient benefit for the community is provided.  Planning officers did not consider this scheme provided sufficient benefit (in addition to the other concerns).

We understand the applicants have withdrawn the application as they feel they can address some of the points of concern.  This probably means that we can expect a revised application.

The details of the application are on the Council web site here.

We will continue to keep you up to date on any further developments.

Ruth, Marlene and Steve