The planning application was registered by Elmbridge Borough Council on 22 March 2024 and the period of objection has now started. You may now make your objections known. Elmbridge Borough Council have requested comments by 26th April 2024.
What a Spectacular Own Goal!
The Developers have shown their true colors and confirm the long-held fears of our community
The developers have released a 6 page leaflet and updated their website. The leaflet and the content on the website are riddled throughout with inaccurate statements, incorrect statistics and reports.
โMisleadingโ is the mildest possible description. Public decency prevents the use of stronger language to truly convey how appalling the proposals are. They show a complete lack of understanding of the needs and desires of our village.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ – ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐๐น๐ ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ.
Below we have addressed some of these inaccuracies:
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด?
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
No, the opposite is true, we are retaining enough retail space in the scheme for existing independent tenants, should they wish to continue trading in the centre.
๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
Yes, there are 11 units occupied and one empty. Do the developers honestly think that the demolition of Walton Bathrooms, Focus Dry Cleaning, Moore by Design, Aura Fey and Hersham Pharmacy does not represent risk of closure? If it was not so serious it would be laughable.
And as for retaining enough space for existing tenants, this is of course physically impossible. It will be the equivalent of squeezing all the businesses whose premises have been demolished into space the size of Martins Newsagent!
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
Overall, approximately 80% of current retail space is retained.
๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
Of course, if you include Waitrose, then figures can be massaged to suit any agenda. Let us not hide from the truth. ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฌ%!
๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐?
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
Reducing the level of car parking will encourage customers to stagger their visits across the day rather than at peak hours, helping reduce congestion on local roads. The smaller number of spaces will be used more frequently with shopping patterns spread across the week and in currently quieter off peak times of the day where there is capacity.
๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
The developers have not answered their own question. We will, and the answer is yes! It will result in a massive increase in congestion in Hersham as the local roads are already at capacity with on street parking, even if it can be found.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ!
This is a truly unbelievable suggestion. We are all looking forward to receiving our instructions regarding when and at what time we will be encouraged to visit the centre. Perhaps there will be a coupon or voucher scheme? Perhaps a lottery where winners are allowed to shop during peak hours?
The developers categorically say that they have only considered shopping patterns. What about parking for the Doctors Surgery, the businesses in Hersham outside of the centre, the visitors to Hersham Green, the parents and visitors to Burhill School and all the other users?
The developers have no answer because the answer is an embarrassment for them.
๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
In order to properly answer this question, let us be absolutely clear about the parking provision currently and the parking provision that is proposed.
The current situation. There are 270 spaces in total. This includes what is known as the Waitrose car park and what is known as the Elmbridge Borough Council pay and display car park.
The proposed situation. Waitrose car park will be entirely lost to private residential development. The proposed total number of parking spaces to be made available to the public is reduced from 270 to 128.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐ณ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ.
The new car park will be under the TOTAL control of the developers and public parking will be lost.
๐ฆ๐ผ, ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
Yes, this is a privately owned shopping centre and carpark and its future success depends on having sufficient car parking. The proposed number of parking spaces meets planning policy guidelines and also operator requirements for a store of this size.
๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
No it is grossly underprovided. The developers reference to planning policy guidelines refers to the residential element of the scheme which has nothing to do with the revised car park for the centre. As far as the parking is concerned the only issue for them concerns Waitrose. There has been no consideration of the very wide public use of the currently available parking across the site.
This is not simply a matter of the relevant parking requirement of Waitrose, important as that is, but if the revised spaces are sufficient for a store of this size, by definition the rest of the users have not been considered at all. At the risk of stating the obvious, there is no provision at all for all the other retail units in the centre, the retail and other businesses in the local area, the Doctors Surgery, Burhill School parents and visitors, St Peters Church, visitors to The Green and its frequent attractions and the many other frequent visitors that make up the character of the Village.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
We have commissioned the UKs leading transport consultants on this matter.
๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ:
Where are these documents?
The developers have been delighting in their boast of “our journey of consultation“.
๐ง๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ก๐ง, ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐
The truth of the matter is that Hersham has merely been presented with 2 proposals and a planning application. The second proposal and the planning application are in substance identical.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น
A consultation involves meetings and discussions at the very beginning of the project so that the developers are able to understand the desires, the concerns, the aspirations and the preferences of the residents, businesses and stakeholders. Did this happen? No, emphatically no. We were simply told of the proposal via a presentation. The proposals were so preposterous that there was near universal ridicule.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น
The second proposal was presented under the guise of “you said, we listened”. This is utter nonsense. The developers knew they would never get away with the first proposal and Hersham knew they would not be fooled by this sleight of hand. Once again consultation was absent. What we got was simply a presentation.
The 6 page leaflet recently dropped to residents is so full of inaccuracies and assumptions that the document cannot be taken seriously.
Perhaps the most serious issue is the implication that all those listed as being consulted not only have had input into the proposals but they agree with them.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ!
4a above dealt with the overwhelming view that, despite the claims, there has been no proper or meaningful consultation with Hersham. There is real anger that the developers have been boasting about their fantasy journey of consultation. Hersham is not fooled, not even for a moment, about these claims.
The developers claim that they have been in consultation with many interested parties over the last 18 months. Really? A reality check is required.
โข Hersham Village Society and Hersham Residents Association approached the developers to open discussions and this resulted in one meeting which lasted less than 2 hours. 2 hours in 18 months. ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
โข Shopping Centre tenants have only been told the intentions of the developers. ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
โข The developers claim between November 2023 and January 2024 further meetings took place with Burhill Primary School. in November 2023 Burhill Primary School actually told the developers they did not wish to have any further contact. ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
โข There have been no discussions whatsoever with any businesses in Hersham. ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
โข The developers claim to have consulted with local residents. Which residents? When? In what form were these discussions? Nobody knows. ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
โข The developers claim to have consulted with site neighbours as well as Burhill School. When? In what form? Nobody knows. There has not been a single visit inside a house in Havers Ave or a flat in Paul Vanson Court, despite requests from residents. That is an utter disgrace. ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
The above merely scratches the surface…
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐น๐. ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐น๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ โ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐โ.
The developers website has a 7 point scheme summary.
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: Two residential buildings up to 6 storeys.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: Every surrounding building on this site, including the school is only 2 storeys. The scheme is totally out of character with the built environment.
ย
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: Massing refined to recess the upper floors (storeys 3 to 6) to increase the distances between the new buildings and the neighbours.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: The visual and overbearing impact, particularly for the immediate residential buildings on 2 sides of the site, will be immense.
ย
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: 109 residential apartments with 54 dedicated parking spaces.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: The scheme is for elderly residents, for which there is already an acknowledged oversupply in the Borough, which means the developer is trying to avoid providing desperately needed Affordable Homes and paying a Community Infrastructure Levy.
ย
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: : 128 surface car parking spaces for customers and cycle parking.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: Developers have already stated, in writing, that Waitrose alone requires 138 spaces. Therefore, the developers agree there is no room for the Doctors Surgery, retail units, all other retail and businesses in Hersham, Burhill School, St Peters Church, visitors to The Green and all those who currently use the car park.
ย
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: Non commercial space suitable for a healthcare facility.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: The Doctors Surgery made it clear nearly 2 years ago that this space was totally unsuitable.
ย
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: One vehicle entrance on New Berry Lane, reducing the volume of traffic using the road.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: The opposite is true. Currently there is no vehicular access to the proposed site from New Berry Lane, so any development will by definition increase the volume of traffic.
ย
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: Two new public toilets provided in the shopping centre.
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐: Public toilets are already provided. So the developers are simply replacing what is already there.
๐ฌ๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น.ย
Be ready to object
Latest News
The planning application was registered by Elmbridge Borough Council on 22 March 2024 and the period of objection has now started. You may now make your objections known. Elmbridge Borough Council have requested comments by 26th April 2024.
The developers have released a 6 page leaflet and updated their website. The leaflet and the content on the website are riddled throughout with inaccurate statements, incorrect statistics and reports.