After a short period of consultation to which NAG responded, Esso announced in late May that the corridor Option M/Q had been removed from future consideration and the preferred corridor was Option S and J, mostly following the route of the current pipeline. However, this route is not without its own threat to the Green Belt to the west in Surrey Heath borough and around Camberley, Chobham, Byfleet, Runnymede and Spelthorne and no doubt these communities will be responding to the next round of consultation.

Outline permission is being sought for 300 homes on the far western border of Normandy ward [17/P/00507], 500 metres from the north part of Site A29 opposite Ash Hill mini-roundabout on the A323 at the eastern border of Ash South & Tongham ward (a total of 1,750 homes) proposed in the draft Guildford Local Plan 2017.

House builder Bewley Homes has submitted a planning application [17/P/00513] on land at Ash Manor, SAsh Green Lane for 95 homes. This appears to be part of a two phase approach where, if Phase 1 permission is granted, a second phase application for a further 97 homes will follow. 

In surveying the attendance at the Normandy Parish Council public meeting to consider the impact of the draft Local Plan proposal to build 1,150 homes across two sites, Normandy's borough councillor David Bilbe estimated in excess of 300 residents present, of whom approximately 50% claimed to have not attended the previous meeting organised by Normandy Action Group. Perhaps the presence of Jonathan Lord MP, our local representative in Parliament was an added attraction.

The opening statement by the chair of Normandy Parish Council, Alan Cheeseman, set the scene. He was followed by Surrey County Councillor for Worplesdon division (including Pirbright, Normandy and Worplesdon) Keith Witham who succinctly summarised the three keys issues within the control of Surrey County Council [SCC] that will determine the content of residents' objections; the proposed 7FE secondary school; the impact on highways; the impact on the environment.

Following on from the community consultation earlier in the year, the full planning application for 370 homes and a 5FE secondary school was submitted to Guildford Borough Council in early June 2016.

The application has had the period for public responses extended until September 2016 to accommodate the summer holiday period. The details are as follows:

Guildford Borough Council have activated the Regulation 19 public consultation period for the draft Guildford Local Plan (12 noon, 6 June 2016) to last for 6 weeks. Borough residents are being encouraged to submit their views on the plan and its supporting evidence by 11.59pm on Monday 17 July. For Flexford and Normandy residents, this will be the third occasion they will be writing to express their opinion. 

Guildford Borough Council [GBC] has notified residents that commented on the planning application 15/P/01670 for 78 homes and retail space at North Wyke Farm, setting a date of Tuesday 2 August at 10.00 am for the planning appeal to be heard in front of an inspector at the GBC offices. The Hearing will be held in public and residents can attend. Should residents wish to speak, they must apply to the Planning Inspectorate, quoting the appeal reference APP/W/Y3615/W/16/3146286 [for contact details see previous news item]