WOKING: 1,000 homes proposal should only be 93
The land in question is around Woking Football Club
Land around Woking Football Club targeted by a developer for more than 1,000 homes is more appropriate for 93, a planning inspector has said.
The national planning inspector approved a modification suggesting it is reasonable to build fewer than 100 homes on the Kingfield site, rather than the proposed 1,048 flats put forward by Goldev.
An action group which fought the plans, called South Woking Action Group (SWAG), have welcomed the recommended cut.
Wayne Gold, director of the developer Goldev Woking Limited, said he will submit a comment on the allocation this week and will await the planning inspectorate’s decision.
Since last July the inspector has been reviewing a Woking Borough Council document that allocates land in the borough for a range of uses, from houses to retail and employment.
In the original version, Woking Football Club was the only site allocated for housing for which the borough council gave no indication of numbers, which the inspector pointed out was “inconsistent” with other allocations.
South Woking Action Group (SWAG) are hoping this amendment will thwart a planning application for 1,048 flats, which was refused permission but is being appealed.
Woking Borough Council received 1,840 objections from the public and 496 comments in support of the plans, which included 45 per cent affordable housing and a new 9,000-seat football stadium.
Neil Jarman, who presented evidence for SWAG in the appeal in May – the conclusion of which is still awaited – said: “We are delighted an inspector has recommended an allocation of just 93 dwellings, whilst retaining the football club on the site too.
“He has clearly rejected the much higher number of 1,000 plus put forward by Goldev. It is very welcome.”
Councillor Louise Morales (LD, Hoe Valley), who argued for a lower figure, said: “I’m very pleased to get to this, it’s taken about 10 years.”
She said it brought the density of housing down to about 60 dwellings per hectare (dph) outside of the football ground, which is the top end of the council’s policy outside the town centre, rather than “the last application which was something like 850 dph – it was insane”.
The inspector’s report reads: “Like any other policies of the SADPD site allocations development plan document, proposals that seek to deliver a differing development quantum would be assessed on their own terms against the development plan taken as a whole and other material considerations.”
The council’s core strategy says 4,964 dwellings need to be provided in the borough between 2010-2027, which works out at just under 300 a year.
Woking councillor Gary Elson, portfolio holder for planning policy, said the council was “extremely pleased” an inspector had found its site allocations document “sound and legally compliant”, subject to a number of modifications, which had been publicly consulted upon at the end of 2020.
Cllr Elson said: “During the process we received thousands of representations from local residents, businesses and key stakeholders. Throughout we have taken great care to listen and respond to concerns and, where justified, we have adapted our proposals.”
The inspector’s final report will be considered and presented to full council for adoption later this year.
No decision date for the Goldev appeal has been set yet.
Here is all the urban (not green belt) land recommended for at least 50 dwellings, with the anticipated number of homes and delivery date:
Land within Sheerwater Priority Place – 570 dwellings (2025-26)
Car park (East) Oriental Road, Woking (alternative parking to be provided) – 250 dwellings (36 expected by 2026-27)
Land at Station Approach, West Byfleet – 208 dwellings (2024-25)
1-12 High Street and 26-34 Commercial Way, Woking – 149 dwellings (2025-26)
30-32 Goldsworth Road, Woking Railway and Athletic Club, Systems House and Bridge House, Woking – 125 dwellings (2026-27)
Offices at 101-121 Chertsey Road, Woking – 104 dwellings (2025-26)
Aggregates yard (to continue operating) next to railway line, Bradfield Close, Woking – 100 dwellings (2025-26)
The Cornerstone, The Broadway and Elizabeth House, Duke Street, Woking – 94 dwellings (2021-22)
Woking Football Club, Westfield Avenue – 93 dwellings (2026-27)
Royal Mail sorting office (to be relocated), White Rose Lane, Woking – 88 dwellings (2026-27)
Timber yard, Arthurs Bridge Road/Horsell Moor, Woking – 67 dwellings (2026-27)
The Big Apple, H.G. Wells Conference Centre, The Rat and Parrot pub, 48-58 Chertsey Road, Woking – 67 dwellings (2022-23)
Offices at 95-105 Maybury Road, Woking – 61 dwellings (start by 2027)
Backland gardens of houses facing Ash Road, Hawthorn Road, Willow Way and Laburnum Road (Barnsbury sites 1 & 2), Barnsbury Farm Estate, Woking – 55 dwellings (start by 2027)
1-7 Victoria Way and 1-29 Goldsworth Road, Woking – 55 dwellings (2026-27)
113-129 Goldsworth Road, Woking – 55 dwellings (2026-27)
2-24 Commercial Way and 13-28 High Street, Woking – 50 dwellings (2025-26)
Trizancia House and Woodstead House, Chertsey Road, Woking – 50 dwellings (2023-24)