The ‘Howard of Effingham’ School site was granted permission for a major redevelopment including hundreds of new homes, after the developer Berkeley Homes appealed to the Secretary of State. Even after this permission, Berkeley Homes have now come back in July 2021 with a further planning application to build even more homes. Another 110, as a minor amendment! With the threat that they won’t be able construct the new school without this planning extension approved. Quite an aggressive and profiteering approach.
Please object to this planning application. See this link for more information and how to object: http://www.nomorehomes.co.uk/
The planning application is to Guildford Borough Council; but the site is very close to the MVDC boundary; and objections do count from people outside of the immediate area.
From a climate emergency perspective this Berkeley Homes application rings all the alarm bells loud and clear:
- It will make a mega school (the big is beautiful approach). Of over 2000 pupils. All being shipped in from miles around by car in many cases. Over 400 parking spaces are allocated.
- It is on GREEN BELT land. Yet again developers seek to profit from eating into our communities green belt space
- See the Energy Statement accompanying the planning application. Although the insulation standards are better than in past homes, it is at the lower end of what is needed. This development will lock in carbon emissions for decades to come at a time that we should be aiming for near net-zero carbon developments.
- As an example of this, on average each property (of 110) will have 590W of solarPV. That is just 2 panels. This is the bare minimum the developer has to do. It is barely worth getting out of bed for! The marginal cost of adding a decent amount of solarPV (eg. 2.5kW) is minor. This approach gives you the feel of how the developer plans to implement the project. ie. build inappropriate type houses for the communities needs, at the cheapest standard, to maximise the developer’s profit. A standard approach. But one that is not for the benefit of the residents nor local community nor for the planet.
- Berkeley Homes makes all the right noises and words about it’s commitment to carbon positive and then makes a planning application like this. Says a lot doesn’t it.
