The application site for the former church building is part of the Longcross Churchyard Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI).

As part of the planning permission granted in 2019 (RU.19/0694), condition 15 required: 

"Condition 15 (Enhance Biodiversity)

Prior to the first residential occupation of the church building hereby approved, details of the measures to improve and enhance biodiversity at the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such details as shall be approved shall be fully implemented prior to the first use or occupation of the development".

The developer recently submitted a planning application (RU.23/1638) to discharge this condition but it was rejected:

"The submission does not recognise the application site as being part of the Longcross Churchyard Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI). Longcross Churchyard SNCI has been designated due to the unimproved acid grassland. We [Surrey Wildlife Trust] have no baseline habitat information to assess whether the new low level shrub planting and new biodiversity areas would provide an ‘enhancement.

We would advise that prior to determination, the LPA seek clarification for how this proposal for landscaping presents an enhancement for the SNCI, and how the presence of the unimproved acid grassland has been factored into the design."

The developer will now have to submit a new application to discharge this condition and they are advised to contact Surrey Wildlife Trust and/or seek advice from a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist.

 The decision notice reminds the applicant that "These conditions need to be met prior to the first residential occupation of the church building."

This is not the first time the developer has ignored the ecology impact associated with converting the former church building. 

Despite the planning permission granted in 2019 (RU.19/0694) clearly stating that an European Protected Species (EPS) license would be required before construction on the building began due to the presence of bats, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Natural England found in May 2022 that no EPS license was in place when construction started. 

It is a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to undertake works which could impact a protected species, even if the harm was caused accidentally. A Community Resolution Order was issued by Surrey Police to the developer and construction was halted until the required EPS license was acquired several months later. 

fochristchurchlongcross@gmail.com