Planning applications in Guildown Avenue

The last few years have seen much controversy over back garden developments proposed by owners of houses on the north side of Guildown Avenue. Three applications to extend outline permission were on the agenda for the meeting of Guildford Borough Council's planning committee on 19 October. Councillor Caroline Reeves had brought the applications to committee because she and her ward councillors, David Goodwin and Anne Meredith, had been inundated with comments from residents who are concerned about development along Green Lane, a quiet lane with ancient hedgerows on either side which extends from the end of The Mount to Henley Wood.

As Councillor Reeves explained to the planning committee, "these applications are very definitely back garden developments which will be accessed from Green Lane, designated Bridleway 14. Given the sites' proximity to the Surrey Hills, an ANOB, an AGLV, an SNCI and next to the Green Belt, we must protect the amenity of Green Lane, ensuring the safety of the ancient hedgerows - some of which have already been destroyed - plus supporting the other wildlife that inhabits the surrounding countryside. We must also consider the effect on The Mount if this and other applications were to be built out. The Mount is a narrow road in an extremely poor state of repair. In 2005 an officer of the County Highways Authority wrote that he would recommend refusal if there were an increase in traffic movements along The Mount/Mount Pleasant/Wodeland Avenue crossroad where visibility is severely restricted and the highway is substandard in terms of carriageway width and footpath provision. That was in 2005, and there has been no improvement since then."

In seconding Councillor Reeves' motion to refuse, Councillor David Goodwin said, 'We must remember the cumulative impact of these applications. We have three before us tonight and there are others which will be coming forward in the near future. We must stop the urbanisation of Green Lane."

All three applications were refused for the following policy reasons G1(2), G1(12) - with reference to hedges, G5(1), G5(2), G5(6), G5(10), NE3, RE1, RE2, RE5, RE6, Para 11.39-44 of the saved Guildford Borough Local Plan 2003, PPS3. Councillor Caroline Reeves said after the meeting, "I am very pleased that the decision was unanimous. The new policy PPS3 which has removed back garden development from a 'brownfield site' category has allowed us to make a much stronger challenge. I am sure these applications will be taken to appeal, so we will just have to wait for the outcome now."