Elmbridge Local Plan Draft Elmbridge Settlement Assessment September 2015 Website: www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning Email: [email protected] Produced by Planning Services September 2015 Contact details If you have any questions relating to this document please contact the Planning Policy Team on: Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01372 474474 Address: Planning Policy Team Planning Services Elmbridge Borough Council Civic Centre High Street Esher, Surrey KT10 9SD Website: www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning Produced by Planning Services September 2015 Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 Background 1 1.3 Context- An overview of the Borough of Elmbridge 2 1.4 Structure 3 2. Policy Context 5 2.1 National Policy 5 2.2 Local Policy 6 3. Approach 14 3.1 Introduction 14 3.2 Settlement Overview 14 3.3 Economic 14 3.4 Social 15 3.5 Environment 19 3.6 Conclusion of each Settlement Assessment 19 4. Settlement Assessment 20 4.1 Walton on Thames Settlement Assessment 20 4.2 Weybridge Settlement Assessment 38 4.3 Hersham Settlement Assessment 61 4.4 East and West Molesey Settlement Assessment 77 4.5 Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood and Weston 95 Green Settlement Assessment 4.6 Esher Settlement Assessment 112 4.7 Cobham, Stoke D’Abernon and Oxshott Settlement 127 Assessment 4.8 Claygate Settlement Assessment 145 5. Conclusion 158 5.1 Conclusion 158 5.2 SWOT Analysis 160 Produced by Planning Services September 2015 This page has been left blank Produced by Planning Services September 2015 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose 1.1.1 This Settlement Assessment examines the economic, social and environment role of each of the eight settlement areas in Elmbridge. The purpose of the Settlement Assessment is to help understand each settlement’s current sustainability and potential for future development. They form a key part of the Local Plan evidence base and will help to formulate policy and guide site allocation work. 1.2 Background 1.2.1 The Government states that each local planning authority should ensure that the Local Plan is based on adequate, up-to-date and relevant evidence about the economic, social and environmental characteristics and prospects of the area. In 2009, a Settlement Strategy was produced which provided evidence for the 2011 Core Strategy (Spatial Strategy Policy CS1). Based on this evidence, the policy set out broad categories for the eight settlements of Elmbridge as detailed here: The settlements within Elmbridge fall within the following broad categories; Main settlement areas: Walton on Thames and Weybridge has been identified as the most sustainable locations within Elmbridge. They provide a broad range of uses and services, as well as opportunities to accommodate new development. Suburban settlement areas: Esher, Hersham, East and West Molesey, Hinchley Wood and the Dittons are primarily residential in character and provide a more limited range of uses and services. These areas are not as sustainable as Walton and Weybridge, but nevertheless have the capacity to accommodate new development in a sustainable manner. Service Centre and rural fringe area: Cobham, Oxshott, Stoke D’Abernon and Downside. Although the four settlements located within this area are distinctively different, they are intrinsically linked to Cobham with regards to service provision. The majority of new development within this area will be directed towards Cobham and its immediate environs as this is the most sustainable location. Suburban village: Claygate functions as a large village rather than a suburban area. Given the nature of the area, it offers very limited development opportunities. Core Strategy 2011, CS1 –Spatial Strategy 1.2.2 There has been no significant development in the Borough over the last six years that has affected the sustainability of the above settlements, however piecemeal development has occurred across Elmbridge. This includes new development; change to uses and in some cases a loss of facilities and Planning Services, September 2015 Page 1 of 161 services. These collective developments and changes could impact on the sustainability of some of the settlements in Elmbridge. 1.2.3 In order to ensure that the evidence base is up to date and continues to support policy, it is considered necessary to reassess the evidence and look in greater detail at the above settlement’s individual economic, social and environmental characteristics. This work forms part of the wider Local Plan Evidence Base Review and will help inform any future plans ensuring development is delivered in the most sustainable location and in a way that seeks to improve the overall sustainability of that area. 1.3 Context- An Overview of the Borough of Elmbridge 1.3.1 Elmbridge is a Surrey borough located in the prosperous South East region, approximately 17 miles south west of Central London. Located almost entirely within the bounds of the M25 motorway, the River Thames forms the northern boundary of the borough separating Elmbridge from the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. To the east is the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The remainder of the Borough’s boundary is shared with the Surrey boroughs of Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne and Woking and the district of Mole Valley. 1.3.1 Covering just over 9,634 hectares (37.2 square miles), Elmbridge is home to approximately 130,000 residents living across the vibrant towns of Walton on Thames and Weybridge; the suburban settlements of Esher, Hersham, East and West Molesey, Hinchley Wood and the Dittons; the rural fringe area of Cobham, Oxshott, Stoke D’Abernon and Downside; and the suburban village of Claygate. Planning Services, September 2015 Page 2 of 161 1.3.3 Elmbridge’s settlements are surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt which covers 57% of the land in the Borough and, in part, contributes to the area’s high quality environment alongside land designated as public open space. The Green Belt straddles the boundaries of several adjoining boroughs. Within the Green Belt lies the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA), which all host boroughs have committed to protect and deliver a strategic package of measures to mitigate the potential adverse effects of new development on the SPA in order to protect its ecological integrity. 1.3.4 Elmbridge benefits from good road and rail accessibility to Central London via the M25 and A3, and is situated within easy reach of both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The M3 is located to the north west of the Borough. Coupled with good passenger rail links to central London, the Borough’s transportation network has proved attractive to a wide variety of individuals and businesses. Thus, the local economy is comparatively strong and unemployment is low. Commuting still plays a significant part for much of the workforce, with both radial and orbital journeys into London and around the region. 1.3.5 The average median gross weekly pay for Elmbridge residents is higher than for those who work in Elmbridge, indicating that a considerable number of residents commute to highly-paid jobs within Greater London. The population of the area is relatively affluent and highly skilled and this, alongside the quality of the environment and ease of access to London, has resulted in property prices that reflect those of London to the north rather than those of the rest of Surrey. Excluding the Greater London region, Elmbridge has the highest average house prices in the country by Local Authority1 and is noted for its very high quality of life2. 1.3.6 Beneficial features of Elmbridge do however, bring disadvantages such as a strong demand for housing and some of the highest house prices outside of London; high levels of commuting particularly towards London; and high land values. 1.4 Structure 1.4.1 This document begins with an outline of national and local policy including a section on the review of the evidence base. The next chapter sets out the approach explaining clearly the structure and content of each assessment. This is then followed by the eight detailed settlement assessments and finishes with the conclusion and Borough wide SWOT analysis. 1 Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/html/43ub.stm 2 Source: http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/media/pdfs/halifax/2012/2212_QualityofLife.pdf Planning Services, September 2015 Page 3 of 161 Disclaimer 1. Please note that all information contained in the settlement assessments is correct at September 2015. Facilities, shops and services do change and this needs to be taken into account when reading the assessment. 2. The assessments are based on ward boundary data from the 2011 Census. Elmbridge Borough Council’s ward boundaries are currently under review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The final recommendations are due on the 1 December 2015. If agreed, the revision to the ward boundaries will be implemented as part of the Local Elections in May 2016. However, it will be sometime until the Census data is reconfigured. Hence, the assessments still refer to the existing wards in the settlements of Elmbridge. Planning Services, September 2015 Page 4 of 161 2. Policy Context 2.1 National Policy National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2.1.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in March 2012 and sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these need to be applied. It stresses the need for the planning system to provide sustainable development and defines “sustainability” as performing