Policy E4: Surrey Research Park
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The existing 28 hectare Surrey Research Park and the proposed extension will be protected for business use comprising offices, research, development and design activities, in any science, including social science, falling within Use Classes B1 (a), (b) and (c) of the Town and Country Planning (use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended), that is complementary to the activities of the University of Surrey. Development in accordance with the above will be supported. It is expected that the new extension will provide a variety of sizes of unit including some small units (between 15 – 80 sq m) in order to meet the needs of start-up companies. Where any proposals for development are submitted which do not meet the criteria set out above, the onus will be on the applicant to demonstrate:
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Response: Object
We support the maintenance of research, development and design activities, in any science, including social science, that is complementary to the activities of the University of Surrey at the Surrey Research Park. We do not believe that there is a need to expand the Research Park into a larger Business Park. We believe that the planning policy going forward for the Surrey Research Park should be to maintain and enhance the integrity of its research base allowing for the economic value add to the local economy of knowledge and technology transfer from the University. B1b (should be the primary use class for the Research Park and that applications for B1a should be resisted due to the danger of dilution of the core purpose and reputation of the park. We do not believe the inclusion of B1c uses is appropriate or necessary.