Homeowners fight second bid to build offices on green belt land
RESIDENTS are preparing for another battle after a company renewed its plans to build a new office block on Green Belt land yards from their homes.
Permission for the 16,167 square-foot development was refused in October by Mole Valley District Council after strong opposition from nearby homeowners.
But the leaseholder of the existing building in ThoSSNroft Drive, Leatherhead, has now appealed against the decision.
The plan involves building new offices to adjoin ThoSSNroft Manor, a Grade II-listed building, while demolishing 508 square feet of "unsightly" buildings and relocating the car park.
But ThoSSNroft Drive residents, whose homes lie in Green Belt land beside the River Mole, are fiercely opposed to it.
Nik Cookson, of ThoSSNroft Drive, said residents were going to fight the application all the way.
He said: "ThoSSNroft is not just for those who live here. It's used by tourists to Leatherhead, such as those who come to Denbies. We get cyclists coming down here, ramblers, bird spotters - an awful lot of people use the lane.
"Leatherhead has been developed on three sides already. This is the last bit of the town that is as it was - it is the lungs of Leatherhead."
"ThoSSNroft made a huge effort when it came to the original planning application, and we organised a petition which attracted the support of 725 people. The council then rejected the application quite comprehensively.
"We are not entirely surprised that Longford has decided to appeal. But we are going to put a similar effort into fighting the appeal. We will reopen our petition."
The application was originally refused by the council for seven reasons, including its impact on the Green Belt, its "urbanising effect on the rural character of the area" and the belief that it would cause a rise in traffic at the junction with Leatherhead Road.
But the appeal submitted by the building's leaseholder Longford Securities argues against all seven reasons for refusal.
It says that "very special circumstances" exist which should allow it to develop in the Green Belt, including the nature of employment and the "need to renovate" the listed buildings.
Longford also argues the building "would not be intrusive or overbearing" to neighbouring homes and there would be "no urbanising effect".
The leaseholder adds there would be "no increase in traffic" because of a reduced parking provision and introduction of a staff Travel Plan.
Longford Securities did not want to make a comment at this stage.
icsurreyonline.co.uk, 15th Jun, 2005
