myKnaphillPlanning Application Land Behind Co-Op
***UPDATE***
Further to the below article, the KRA are thrilled to say that the Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal by the Thamesway agents and stated in summary “For the reasons given, and having regard to all other matters raised, including by local residents and other third parties, the appeal is dismissed.” A small victory for Knaphill environment and anyone who believes that housing should be a fair size and with reasonable parking.
______________________________________
Binkot, Englefield Road, Knaphill GU21 2EB: This is the land behind the Co-op and opposite the entrance to the car park. (Binkot is the name of a bungalow that stood on this site many years) In 2017 Thamesway Developments submitted a planning application build 4 three bedroom houses on the site. Planning permission was refused by the Planning Officer using his delegated authority, this meant that the planning application did not go before the Planning Committee and therefore local Councillors did not offer an opinion. The decision was taken on 12 March 2018, with the following excerpt:
The scale of the proposed dwellings, the proposed plot layout and restricted internal floor area, the Unduly cramped and contrived form of development and uncharacteristically small and irregularly shaped plot sizes which would fail to provide acceptable residential amenity for potential future occupants of the development. Furthermore, the proposed dwellings by reason of their overall height, mass, form, appearance and resultant relationship with Englefield Road would visually dominate the area and fail to relate well to surrounding buildings in the sites context.
There was also an issue with the inadequate off-street parking being provided.
We have now heard that Thamesway have appealed and a Planning Inspector will now decide. Thamesway have submitted a 32 page report outlining why they disagree with the decision of the planners at WBC.
An excerpt from the Thamesway Agents appeal:
The commercial unit in question would appear to be a small local Co op which is likely to receive a few deliveries from a central depot. Given the Co-op’s loading bay’s location it is unlikely that deliveries are received into this yard rather an early morning delivery is taken from the High Street through the shop and the yard is used for storage of empty cases.
Whilst car ownership is predicted to be relatively low, evidence on the form, of parking surveys has demonstrated that more than adequate parking is available in the local area to cater for any demand for parking for residents.
It also makes several references to the excellent public transport options available to Knaphill residents.
Thamesway Development is wholly owned by Woking Borough Council and 3 of the 4 directors of Thamesway are either senior officers at WBC or a Conservative councillor.
The KRA have written a letter of objection to this proposal.
The reference for this application is PLAN/2017/1309. The appeal reference is APP/A3655/W/18/3202232 to take a look at the plans and to state your opinion, click here for the WBC Planning Portal.
Sainsbury’s Proposed Retail Unit Changes
***UPDATE***
This application can now be found at PLAN/2018/0973 on the WBC planning website.
__________________________________________
The KRA have been contacted by the Sainsbury’s estate management department to make us aware of plans they are currently working on to redesign the retail units housing Homebase. Sainsbury’s are the freeholder for the entire Sainsbury’s Brookwood site, including Homebase, the car park and the loading bay area in the rear. The plan is to change the current Homebase space, including garden centre into three new retail units which would be large format stores and open plan. They have contacted us prior to submitting a planning application to Woking Borough Council. Here is a look at the plans and an excerpt from their letter.
The roof of the existing Homebase building would be slightly raised to accommodate a mezzanine level. The building would be divided into two new stores, with the garden centre replaced by a third unit to match the newly renovated building. A new entrance canopy would be constructed along the front of the retail units and glazing would be installed to provide a better shopping environment and a more attractive appearance.
The new units would be larger, open-plan units that would attract retailers who cannot currently be accommodated within the local area. As such, this would complement the existing retail offer in Knaphill and provide enhanced choice for local people. We will announce the new retailers once they have been confirmed.
The existing car park has enough spaces to serve the new development and would therefore largely remain as it is currently, with a small increase of 7 car parking spaces. Deliveries would continue to be made to the covered service yard to the rear of the buildings and within the current delivery hours.
Homebase has released a list of stores which are due to be closed, but so far Homebase Woking does not feature on there, so at the moment it is unclear what the future may be for the store.
If you’d like to get in touch with Sainsbury’s directly to discuss this then call 0800 080 3164 or email sainsburys-brookwood@devcomms.co.uk
KRA Committee Meeting Minutes – August 2018
Here are the minutes from the latest KRA committee meeting, so to find out what we’ve been discussing, simply click below and have a read. Don’t forget, you can always come along to discuss something with us, or find out more about getting involved (and don’t worry, you won’t end up volunteering for more than your comfortable with).
Colouring Competition Winner 2018
Saturday 14th July 2018 saw two incredibly important events take place; another triumphant Knaphill Village Show, and a brand new logo for the KRA! Take a look at this beautiful new logo, coloured in by 9 year old Knaphill resident, Charlotte.
The winner was selected by our artist on site, local photographer, Iva Dahan (you can check out her expert credentials here!), and will be used as our logo for a whole year. The standard of entries this year was incredibly high, so Iva had a huge number of beautiful artworks to choose from. Charlotte worked so hard on this and the winner was announced and presented by Woking MP Jonathan Lord.
Planning Updates June 2018
Here are some of the latest and most important planning applications taking place in Knaphill, including Lorenzo’s and the Anchor Pub. Don’t forget to have your say by visiting the planning section on the Woking Borough Council website.
LORENZO UNIT 1&2. 5 High Street – The application to convert the premises into a funeral directors business has been approved.
4 ANCHOR CRESCENT (space above library) – Planning application to convert storage space into 4 apartments, 3 one bedroom + 1 studio. ref PLAN/2018/0515.
SUSSEX COURT, High Street – The owner of the land at the rear of the apartments applied to build two bungalows on the site, and WBC rejected this. The owner has now appealed against that decision.
ANCHOR PUB – WBC have just issued the final decision notice to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the Anchor pub site. It will contain 8 x self-contained residential units (3 x two bed & 5 x one bed), with the retention of A3 (restaurant/café) and A4 (drinking establishment) site uses. The commercial premises approved shall not open to customers outside of the following hours. Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 11.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am to 11.30 pm and Sunday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. If the developer wanted to change the use of the commercial space, say to shops, he would have to submit an application to amend the current agreement.
The biggest concern the KRA had was the lack of parking; the last drawings we saw had only 5 parking bays for 8 residential units. The decision notice does not go into any detail on parking all it says is “Prior to first occupation of the development hereby approved, space shall be laid out within the site in accordance with the approved plans listed in this notice for vehicles to be parked and to turn so that they may enter and leave the site in forward gear and thereafter the parking and turning areas shall be permanently retained and maintained for their designated purpose.”
The Biggest Event of the Year!
No, forget the Royal Wedding, that’s done. And who knows what will happen with sporting events possibly coming home. This is the real event you’ve all been waiting for. The one event you know you can truly rely upon to entertain everyone…
It’s the Knaphill Village Show of course!
The 2018 show takes place this coming Saturday, 14th July at Mizen’s Railway, from 1pm until 5pm, and with the weather forecast to still be glorious, we are hoping to make it the biggest and best event yet!
Don’t forget, whilst we do our best to organise good car parking, it always gets jammed as there is only so much space to go around, so do consider catching our FREE minibus which runs from the Vyne car park to the front gate throughout the day. Or consider walking instead! It’s only half a mile from the village centre, down across Waterer’s Park, and then through the woods, and on such a beautiful day, who doesn’t need the exercise?!
We have some fantastic entertainers on hand, including the return of the incredibly popular Ukeholics among other musical acts, and our lovely stiltwalker, Shelley Baker.
There are delicious food and drink stalls to indulge in both on the day, and to take away with you. Each and every stall will be organising something fun and brilliant for you to get involved in; from raffles and lucky dips, to facepainting and craft making. All the stalls are run by local people, supporting charities and local businesses, so really there is no better way to support your community than by showing up and having an afternoon of fun for everyone!
We are absolutely thrilled that the event is being opened this year by local sporting personality & Olympian, Simon Mason, so turn up to meet him and have a chat about his career too.
All this and loads more, all for the bargain price of just £2?! You can see why it’s the biggest event of the year!
Knaphill Magazine Summer Issue
The Summer issue of Knaphill News is out now and is being diligently distributed by our kindly volunteers. But if you’re fed up of staring at the letterbox in anticipation, or impatience has got the better of you, you can click here to download the latest issue. Printed versions are available in a number of locations around Knaphill, including the Post Office, library and GP surgeries.
This issue focusses on the forthcoming Knaphill Village Show; the highlight of our calendar, and only a few short weeks away now. So get your copy today and get reading so you can find out all about it.
Trip to Austria
Dee Roberts is organising a holiday to Austria to see the Passion Play in 2020 – would you like to go? This is a very special trip and a very special play which only takes place every 10 years. The trip will be 15th to 22nd July, 2020, and comprises of 5 nights in Strobl on Lake Wolfgang, followed by 2 nights in Oberammergau to see the Passion Play itself. Tickets are very limited and the theatre is open with the stunning mountains providing a striking natural backdrop for this important play.
Costs are £1765 (single room supplement £235) and include flights, half board, walking trips, coach trips, gratuities, and top grade tickets for the Passion Play itself.
For further details and information, email Dee or call 01483 475 356
2018 Colouring Competition – Now Open!
Yes, that’s right folks! Our incredibly popular competition to give our KRA logo a splash of colour is back, back, back! Click here to find out more, and download your entry form.
Here is last year’s winning entry from 7 year old Amber. Look how bright and cheerful those colours are (top tip: we like felt tip pens!)
KRA Committee Minutes
Here is a link to the minutes from our most recent KRA committee meeting, which tooke place in May 2018:
myKnaphill 