In Byfleet, Mayford and Pyrford), to Meet Long Term Future Development Needs of the Borough Between 2027 and 2040? Please Provide Details Below
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Site Allocations DPD - Land to the east of Martyrs Lane Response Form Title: Mrs Forename: Patricia Surname: Pollard Email address: First line of address: Town: Woking Postcode: ☐ Please mark here if you do not wish to be kept informed on the preparation of key planning policy documents of the Council Please note that all representations received will be made available for inspection at the Civic Offices following the conclusion of the consultation period. Representations will be identifiable by name and organisation. Any other personal information provided will be processed by Wok ing Borough Council in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. Please specify if there is any personal information on your representation that you will not wish to be made public. Consultation Question Would you agree to the possibility of substituting the land to the east of Martyrs Lane for the safeguarded sites identified in the draft Site Allocations DPD (in Byfleet, Mayford and Pyrford), to meet long term future development needs of the borough between 2027 and 2040? Please provide details below. I strongly agree that the site to the East of Martyrs Lane should be substituted for the safeguarded sites (in Byfleet, Mayford and Pyrford) identified in the draft site allocations DPD to meet the long term future development needs of Woking Borough between 2027 and 2040 for the following reasons: 1. Site Capacity The anticipated housing requirement on safeguarded land in the period 2027 to 2040 that has been officially agreed is for 1,024 dwellings. The area north of New Zealand Golf Course (NZGC) totals just over 36 hectares and is nearly 6 hectares more than the 31 hectares included in the 6 original sites identified for development. There is thus no need to build on NZGC in order to satisfy the requirement for these dwellings on land safeguarded for development in the period 2027-2040. 2. Previously Developed Site Government policy and common sense dictate that brownfield sites and previously developed sites be used before virgin Green Belt. The two fields in Pyrford have been farmed for centuries and have never been built upon. They provide the rural landscape essential to the semi-rural character of the area and are extensively used as a leisure facility, whereas the Martyrs Lane site is hardly if ever used and is pretty much unknown, even to the local community. The stated objective of the Pyrford Neighbourhood Plan is to ‘maintain and enhance the area’s distinctive and special rural and residential character’, and these fields contribute to that. They are used to produce crops, whereas the Martyrs Lane Land has no current use. Moreover, the Martyrs Lane site was granted planning consent for a 60,000 square foot factory in the northern portion of the site (revoked at the request of McLaren), was the base for 50 Nissen Huts for an Army Camp in WW2, and was used as emergency housing for about 5 years after WW2. Today this site north of the NZGC comprises unused, uncared for and semi-derelict facilities, and overgrown woodland. 3. Road Congestion The Martyrs Lane site can link straight onto the A 320 at the McLarens roundabout. The sites in Pyrford & Byfleet are accessed by B or C roads with traffic flowing onto the A245. The A245 is already congested and this will only increase with the Broadoaks and West Hall developments, and whatever development is agreed for Sheer House in West Byfleet. Some traffic from the Pyrford field sites is likely to flow into the already congested and narrow streets of Ripley. On any objective basis, the Martyrs Lane site should result in less traffic congestion than the other 6 sites. 4. Upshott Lane Fields The Brett Woking Green Belt Report said these fields have very low suitability for removal from the green belt, and this category is described as land fundamental to the green belt. Martyrs Lane is categorised as having low suitability and so should be selected, on this criteria, before the fields in Pyrford. The Pyrford land is in the category Major Environmental Constraint, classified as grade 3 agricultural with some grade 2 and is identified as an ‘Escarpment and rising ground of Landscape importance’: this designation is protected in Woking Core Strategy CS24, whereas Martyrs Lane falls into category Minor Constraint. These fields fall into two categories, namely little or no capacity for change and low capacity for change. The area has a strong unspoilt rural character, and the Surrey Landscape Character Assessment says of it: ‘the enclosed farmland, experienced from the public rights of way network, give the area a rural feel.’ The Martyrs Lane site has no local or national landscape designations and has been partially developed in the past with both military and civilian accommodation during and immediately after WWII. On any objective basis the Martyrs Lane site should therefore be selected for safeguarded development land before the Pyrford fields. 5. Infrastructure One larger site of 1,024 properties should provide an economy of scale, particularly when resolving infrastructure issues like water, waste, and electricity, compared with the provision of these same services on 6 separate sites spread across the borough. Moreover the major water main on the adjacent A 320 is currently being renewed and is an added benefit for the Martyrs Lane site. The disruption to residents and traffic of a single site should be significantly less during development than that at 6 separate sites. 6. Affordable homes The land value at the Martyrs Lane site is likely to be less than the 6 original sites suggested, and this should help provide affordable housing. Housing in Pyrford is expensive and more executive type homes of the sort found in Pyrford will not provide the key worker homes needed by employers such as McLarens and St Peter’s Hospital. 7. Healthcare and Schooling The West Byfleet Health Centre is fully subscribed and Pyrford Junior School is already full and has taken many pupils from the Maybury area. With the potential number of new dwellings at Martyrs Lane, there could be an opportunity to build both a new school and a health centre, relieving pressure on current resources at West Byfleet health centre and Pyrford School. 8. Public transport Martyr’s lane has better bus services than other sites. Currently the 446 runs on Chertsey Road until 22:00 in the evening and has a Sunday Service. Buses in Pyrford cease at around 18:00, Byfleet at 19:00 and Mayford at 20:00 and there are no Sunday Service. McLaren also operate an employee bus service that could contribute to Martyrs Lane connectivity services and arranging adequate services at one site will be easier than to several dispersed sites. 9. Summary On any objective basis, the Martyrs Lane site can provide a viable basis for WBC housing expansion which will provide new homes in an area which has the capacity, instead of trying to further overload the areas encompassed by the 6 original safeguarded sites in Byfleet, Pyrford, Hook Heath and Mayford. .