As expected the developer Fairfax Aspire has now submitted an outline application for up to 110 dwellings. Details are available here.
Fundraiser launched today – Please donate as you can
WERS in conjunction with the Langley Vale Action Group will be ensuring a robust objection is submitted to this application.
We have launched our fundraiser today and details, and what the funds raised will be used for, can be found here. Please donate if you can.
WERS is delighted to confirm that the Government Planning Inspector has dismissed the appeal by the developer Homes by Harlequin for a detached dwelling house midway along the farm track to Langley Bottom Farm. Reference: APP/P3610/W/25/3359376
WERS had played a prominent role in ensuring that the original planning application was refused permission by the Borough Council’s Planning Committee. WERS also submitted a robust objection on behalf of local residents to the planning appeal.
The developer deliberately removed the landscape covering to expose the footings of the long-since demolished agricultural dwelling that was once there and attempted to hoodwink the Inspector that the proposal was merely a replacement dwelling and that its impact on the Green Belt and landscape would be minimal. The Inspector supported WERS assertion that it was ridiculous to claim that what was being proposed was a replacement dwelling. He found that : ‘The appellant’s arguments therefore largely rely on overlooking the fact that what remains on site is not a farmhouse but a few pieces of what were once a dwelling.’
The Inspector also supported WERS contention that the proposal would have a significant visual impact on the landscape character and on the views available to people and their visual amenity. He concluded in his dismissal letter that :
‘it would appear as a sporadic development and piecemeal urbanisation of a generally open area of land which forms part of the transition between the built environs of Langley Vale and the wider countryside setting. Therefore, the proposed dwelling would not assimilate into the landscape but instead have an adverse effect on the character and appearance of the area. It would therefore conflict with Policy CS5 of the Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy 2007 and Policies DM9 and DM10 of the Epsom and Ewell Development Management Policies Document 2015. These policies, amongst other things, seek to ensure that developments complement the attractive characteristics of the Borough and make a positive contribution to the natural environment and a site’s surroundings. ‘
This decision should be enormously helpful in WERS campaign alongside Langley Vale residents to ensure that the proposal for 110 dwellings on the adjacent field is refused planning permission.
Despite Councillor Liz Frost speaking against the latest application at the Planning Committee meeting on 10 July and putting up a sterling case for refusal it was approved by the Committee.
The approval is for the demolition of the residential dwelling at 6A Bucknills Close and office building at 13 Whitehorse Drive and the construction of nine residential units (3×2 bed and 6 x 3 bed) together with car parking, landscaping and access arrangements.
We are delighted that WERS objections to this scheme on behalf of local residents has been completely vindicated with the Inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal. The appeal decision can be found here.
A further application has now been received for a 9 unit scheme which now incorporates the adjacent builders yard. WERS will be responding to this shortly. You can submit comments/objections until Thursday 10 April 2025.
The Langley Vale Village Hall was full for our meeting last week on the Fairfax residential development proposal on the Green Belt site at Langley Bottom Farm.
As the local residents society WERS will lead the fight against the scheme on behalf of the village alongside an action group of local volunteers. We will also be fundraising to support our campaign.
If you are a Langley Vale Resident but were unable to attend the meeting and would like more details please email us on info@woodcoteepsomresidentssociety.org including your address and we will send you the notes of last weeks meeting, future updates and information on how to get involved.
The notes from last weeks meeting have been circulated. If you were at the meeting last week and you have not received the notes please email us on info@woodcoteespomresidentsociety.org to confirm your email address and we will resend them.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has opened the consultation asking Surrey residents, businesses, voluntary groups and local organisations to express their opinions on what would be right for the future of Surrey’s Council make-up.
The consultation is based on the two proposals for either two or three unitary councils which Surrey’s existing local authorities shared with the Government back in May.
If you would like to take part in the consultation and share your views you can do so here:
The Fairfax housing proposal is a highly controversial scheme
WERS can advise you of the policy background to the proposal and how best to respond to Borough Council if, and when, a planning application is submitted. It is also important that we hear your views directly and answer any questions if we are able to.
WERS has therefore arranged a public meeting for local residents only in the Langley Vale Village Hall at 7pm on Thursday 19 June.
Please come along.
The Fairfax proposal is the most significant development scheme impacting on Langley Vale and its residents in decades and we need to prepare our case.
Woodcote (Epsom) Residents Society will be coordinating the views of Langley Vale residents and responding to the consultation on the proposal to develop the remaining valuable green belt land at Langley Bottom Farm.
We would emphasise that the proposal is at a very early stage and no planning application has yet been submitted.
Please contact us with your thoughts/comments on the proposal from Fairfax so that we can represent your feelings in our response by emailing us on info@woodcoteepsomresidentssociety.org
We will be at the drop-in session on 3 June and we will be in touch about next steps
We are pleased to see that the application for a change of use of this residential dwelling to a 10 person house in multiple occupation has been withdrawn.
WERS had objected on grounds of the impact on residential amenity, car parking pressures on an already congested road and unsatisfactory living conditions for proposed residents.
