Member Article

Decision on controversial Sheerwater Regeneration Scheme deferred

The planning decision for a controversial regeneration scheme in Woking, which includes a major housing development and a new retail centre, has been deferred until the end of the year.

Woking Council has delayed the decision on whether New Vision Homes is given permission to submit a planning application for the regeneration of Sheerwater following feedback from local residents and Councillors.

The widely-criticised scheme would involve the demolition of 575 existing homes in the area to make way for a development of 984 homes.

The homes would be environmentally sustainable, energy efficient, accessible, safe, and will meet the needs of current and future residents with a significant number of the properties being family sized accommodation.

A report, seeking the approval of Councillors for New Vision Homes to submit a planning application, was to be presented to Council at its meeting on 9 July 2015. This has now been deferred until later in the year.

Cllr David Bittleston, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing Development, said: “Having listened to the questions raised by residents and Councillors during the Independent Sheerwater Scrutiny Panel Public Hearings, it is clear there is a misunderstanding of what is being proposed and a perception that the consultation process has been predetermined.

“While the findings of the Panel will not, and were never intended to, influence the submission of the planning application, it is clear that submitting a planning application before the Panel has delivered its findings would reinforce this perception that the project is a done deal.

“Therefore, I have taken the decision to defer the submission of the report to allow the Independent Sheerwater Scrutiny Panel [ISSP] to deliver its recommendations. I hope that this decision will go some way to addressing those misperceptions I have heard presented during the ISSP process.

“Nevertheless, the Council remains committed to a regeneration of Sheerwater that would deliver significant benefits in terms of leisure, housing, retail and public open spaces to existing and future residents and businesses of Sheerwater.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .