This week, I was really encouraged to get three bits of positive planning news in Purley & Woodcote.
20 Purley Knoll
A number of residents contacted me about 20 Purley Knoll and an application put in for the erection of 2 flats and 7 houses. I very much shared local frustration about overdevelopment on this road and had raised my concerns with Council officers.
I am very pleased to say that this application has been refused.
Mayreau, Farm Lane
I immediately referred this application for the erection of six flats. Farm Lane is a lovely, quiet residential road which I feared would suffer the same fate as neighbouring roads should this application have been referred.
The strength of feeling amongst the local community was clear, with 123 objections, including from our Member of Parliament, Chris Philp. I am absolutely delighted that Council officers have opted to refuse this application and under their delegated powers, this means that it will not go to Planning Committee.
1A Woodcote Valley Road
This was one of my first referrals as a Councillor and I am delighted to say this application for the erection of five flats has been refused. I am grateful to the Purley & Woodcote Residents Association and their planning guru Andrew Gammie for his help with this referral, and I am so glad that Council officers understood our concerns about overdevelopment, traffic/highways impact and the visual intrusion neighbouring properties would suffer.
It is incredibly refreshing to see Council officers refusing more inappropriate planning applications now that this Conservative administration has revoked the design guide, SPD2 which has caused so much misery to local residents. However, with applications continuing to coming in, such as nine flats on 20 Purley Rise (ref: 22/02489/FUL) which I will be referring to the Planning Committee, we must not be complacent. I will continue to support local residents in challenging these applications wherever possible.
