Guildford Borough Council refused Berkeley Homes 110 planning application

Just to further update on last night and to remind everyone that this was and is a whole community effort, yes I led the campaign the last 20 months but there were people long before me fighting this and those who remained behind the scenes in assisting this. EFFRA and Parish Councillors have done an incredible amount of work on this so when I say Thank you to everyone I really do mean it!

Can we also remind ourselves why I felt so passionately to fight this. BH already have approval for 295 homes and the build of the new school. Had Rhona not allowed the school to get into such disrepair the last 7 years, the school would be in a far better condition but she hasn't spent money on it since the first application because it works in the schools favour on these applications to appear run down. We also don't need a £50 million school to be built to the high specification Rhona is demanding. If they went for a more realistic school build they wouldn't need to claim they need extra houses to fund the school. I have never been against a new school in the area. I have a son of younger school age and appreciate an improved school is required but NOT at the cost of BH applying greed and ransom to this area to line their pockets. The financial Viability report is still a red flag. The ancient woodland loss, the wildlife loss, the greenbelt loss and all for what? An expensive school? Why can't they stick to the 295 already approved and reduce the "Rolls Royce" specification of the school and leave Effinghams greenbelt alone

So where to begin on last night, the 110 houses were refused by GBC. The atmosphere in the room was very much not looking to go in our favour. The planning committee were advised to approve the plans. I did have to hide a snigger much like the rest of the room when a councillor appearing on Zoom was heard saying "theres a bum fight going on" ......he was very quickly muted!

We had incredible speakers there objecting to it, Ian, Vivienne and Bronwen along with Liz Hogger, without them speaking with the passion and truth that they did, this would have been a potentially very different story. Equally, for everyone who objected to this, every one really does make a huge difference moving forward if BH take this to appeal and I am sure we will have the full backing of EFFRA and Parish Councils again.

After I left they considered and accepted application 21/P/01283. this means that BH have been allowed to take the two small areas of land out of the scheme - the one at the front which was to be the village green and the one at the back they wanted to put 50 of the homes on in huge apartment blocks. They stay in the green belt and any application to build on them will have to go to the planning committee but they will have less protection.

BH can appeal on the decision to turn down the 110 houses.

This is where it gets tricky and we need as much attention back on this again with national news - I will work on this, Guildford Dragon are awaiting a story from me.

EFFRA are still trying to figure out the missing objections, we need these numbers to reflect what they truly are if this goes to Secretary of State again.

The fight most certainly isnt over depending on Berkeley Homes next move.......