The appeal by the developer against the refusal by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) of planning application 25/P//01521 for up to 200 dwellings on the site known as Shortlands Farm, has been allowed.

This follows a public inquiry which, in the end, was something of a damp squib, as by the time it started most, if not all, of the outstanding issues had been agreed between GBC and the developer. It therefore remained for the inspector to seek clarification of the various points that had originally led GBC to refuse the application, and to produce a report setting the decision in the context of national and local planning regulations. You can read his comprehensive report behind the link below. 

The image above is a "place-making plan" that was introduced very late into the proceedings and which raised some issues for the inspector - see his report. The image below is from the original application documents; some details have been modified in the "place making plan", for example, the orientation of the houses facing Wyke Avenue. Both images are from the developer and can be seen on the planning portal under 25/P/01521. 

This was an outline application with detailed matters "reserved". There will now, therefore, be a series of further applications seeking approval for the specifics of the proposal. But, on the face of it, 200 homes will now be built on the Shortlands Farm site, adding to the eastwards extension of the Ash/Tongham Urban Area. Decisions are still awaited on the two applications for large-scale development by Taylor Wimpey, one in Tongham (up to 420 dwellings) and one in Normandy (up to 950 dwellings). 

Attachments:

6008529 - Appeal Decision.pdf

[Inspector's report]

473 kB