A Happy New Year to you.
I am contacting you with a few updates.
We have heard from the Hospital Trust that the demolition work on the buildings that they sold and have been such an eyesore is due to start next week. The work, which will be undertaken on behalf of Legal and General, is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of July.
Work continues at pace on the preparation of the new Local Plan, and this year will see the production of the draft plan that is expected to go to Regulation 19 Public Consultation next January. Thank you to all those who responded to the Town Centre Master Plan consultation that ended towards the end of December. I know it was a long document and quite involved, your feedback is much valued and plays an important part in steering future developments. Please do continue to respond to the Council’s consultations. You can find out more about the Plan and processes at Draft Local Plan 2022-2040 | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (epsom-ewell.gov.uk).
Some of our roads and pavements are definitely in need of being cleared of fallen leaves and other debris – made worse because of all the rain. I have been requesting that those that I notice that are particularly bad are added to the Council’s list to be cleared. If you have others that are in need, you can make a request at Online forms | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (epsom-ewell.gov.uk).
The developers of the new properties at Langley Bottom Farm have requested a change to the planning conditions. As you may recall that despite our work, the many objections received and our Planning Committee refusing this application, the national planning inspector overturned the Council’s decision and so this development is now allowed, subject to conditions. We cannot undo the permission. However the developer now wants to change the design of some of the properties. This would result in changing their appearance from one that would fit in with this the rural environment to one much less sympathetic to the area. I will be speaking against the requested change at the Planning Committee next week.