Your specific objection may be emailed to the planning inspectorate at the following address: [email protected] and must be marked with the following in the subject box: OBJECTION TO APP/R3650/W/21/3280136.
These must be submitted by 21 October 2021 or they will not be considered.
Please note: If you submitted comments previously they are in the PI pack so these will be reviewed by the Inspector, so don't send again. Only new representations should be submitted with new issues you were not able to address before, and/or summarise your key about the proposed development.
It is important not to simply repeat all that has been said before.
These must be submitted by 21 October 2021 or they will not be considered.
Please note: If you submitted comments previously they are in the PI pack so these will be reviewed by the Inspector, so don't send again. Only new representations should be submitted with new issues you were not able to address before, and/or summarise your key about the proposed development.
It is important not to simply repeat all that has been said before.
Grounds of Objection for Red Court Appeal
Please do not just copy & paste these statements - they are a guide.
Please do not just copy & paste these statements - they are a guide.

1. Highways Changes: Pedestrian changes to Old Haslemere Road and Museum Hill which will lose the character green verges and parking for a virtual pavement.
- No consultation carried out on these proposed changes, which will have a very detrimental impact on local residents and the character of the area.
- Out of character with this area of Haslemere where there are no pavements in the surrounding area. Will urbanise the area which is more rural in character - contrary to Policy D1 and D4 of the Local Plan 2002 (Retained Policies).
- Loss of residential parking spaces on Museum Hill which have only just been provided after a long battle, as well as spaces along the upper part of Museum Hill by the inclusion of pavements.
- Unrealistic to expect significant pedestrian or cycle movements from the proposal to the town or station as the topography is too challenging for most. Not as sustainable location as appellant implies.
- There will be a very significant increase in traffic along these routes due to the reliance on vehicular access contrary to Policy D1 and D4 of the Local Plan 2002 (Retained Policies).
- The narrow roads of Old Haslemere Road and Museum Hill cannot take more traffic and it will not be safe for pedestrians and vehicles to share these narrow restricted routes on ‘virtual’ walkways.. This is contrary to Policy D1 and D4 of the Local Plan 2002 (Retained Policies).
- The traffic generation of the recently granted development at the Heights for 22-25 dwellings has not been factored into the Transport Assessment by the appellant therefore giving a falsely conservative assessment of traffic movements.
- Old Haslemere Road/Museum Hill is an already compromised and restricted route and junction due to its layout and topography.
- Parking Cars - where will all the displaced cars park who have bays, permits or use road side parking for their normal
2. Settlement Boundary: The site lies outside of the settlement boundary – this location is not considered appropriate for development as detailed in the Local Plan and adopted Neighbourhood Plan. It is not in the public interest as there have been in excess of 500 objections to the proposal.
3. Landscape Impact: Immediate and irrevocable effect of building on protected greenfield land – contrary to Local Plan Part 1 Policy RE1 which seeks to protect the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside in line with National planning policiesLocal Plan Policy RE3 requires Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) to be treated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Therefore paragraph 172 of the National Planning Policy Framework applies where exceptional circumstances are required to build on such protected land. No such circumstances exist. High Court judgement confirms that pressure to provide housing numbers does not constitute ‘exceptional circumstances’.
There will be a detrimental effect on the setting of the AONB and the setting of the South Downs National Park. The proposals are contrary to national planning policies and Local Plan Policy RE3.
4. Impact on Listed Building: Red Court is a Grade II listed house, the setting of which will be harmed due to the urbanising effect of the development on its setting, as well as the reduced tree cover in proximity of the house as well changing the long distance views and setting of the house. This would be contrary to Policy HA1 and National Planning Policies.
5. Biodiversity: Many protected species will be displaced by the proposed development. The council’s climate emergency pledge is to act to protect the environment.
The application does not provide evidence to support the claimed 10% net biodiversity gain.
The requirements of DEFRA 2.0 are not fulfilled. The application is not compliant with national planning policy at paragraphs 172, 175 & 180 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Local Plan Policy NE1.
6. Dark Night Skies: The proposed development will cause light pollution contrary to the ‘Dark Skies area’ identified in the Haslemere Neighbourhood Plan.
7. Unsustainable pressure on water supply: This area suffers regular water shortages in recent months and years due to an insufficient system. The addition of 25 new homes at The Heights site and the proposed 50 dwellings (minimum) on the appeal site will make this situation completely unsustainable. Thames Water have no solution on how to solve the problem.
3. Landscape Impact: Immediate and irrevocable effect of building on protected greenfield land – contrary to Local Plan Part 1 Policy RE1 which seeks to protect the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside in line with National planning policiesLocal Plan Policy RE3 requires Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) to be treated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Therefore paragraph 172 of the National Planning Policy Framework applies where exceptional circumstances are required to build on such protected land. No such circumstances exist. High Court judgement confirms that pressure to provide housing numbers does not constitute ‘exceptional circumstances’.
There will be a detrimental effect on the setting of the AONB and the setting of the South Downs National Park. The proposals are contrary to national planning policies and Local Plan Policy RE3.
4. Impact on Listed Building: Red Court is a Grade II listed house, the setting of which will be harmed due to the urbanising effect of the development on its setting, as well as the reduced tree cover in proximity of the house as well changing the long distance views and setting of the house. This would be contrary to Policy HA1 and National Planning Policies.
5. Biodiversity: Many protected species will be displaced by the proposed development. The council’s climate emergency pledge is to act to protect the environment.
The application does not provide evidence to support the claimed 10% net biodiversity gain.
The requirements of DEFRA 2.0 are not fulfilled. The application is not compliant with national planning policy at paragraphs 172, 175 & 180 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Local Plan Policy NE1.
6. Dark Night Skies: The proposed development will cause light pollution contrary to the ‘Dark Skies area’ identified in the Haslemere Neighbourhood Plan.
7. Unsustainable pressure on water supply: This area suffers regular water shortages in recent months and years due to an insufficient system. The addition of 25 new homes at The Heights site and the proposed 50 dwellings (minimum) on the appeal site will make this situation completely unsustainable. Thames Water have no solution on how to solve the problem.
ALSO
Although not part of the appeal Local Plan pt 2 is important: Residents must support the exclusion of the site from the last stage of the Local Plan Review process. The Local Plan is in its final stages, with Local Plan Part 2 (LPP2) currently being open for consultation on the final changes that are proposed. LPP2 sets out the proposed allocations for the area. The Red Court site was previously included but has now been deleted as a proposed allocation from LPP2. The brownfield Royal School site at Hindhead is now a proposed allocation for 90 dwellings. This site is much more suitable for residential development than the Red Court site as it is a brownfield site, has established and good access points and will be vacant in the near future and in need of reuse. Furthermore it will enable the retention of the Royal School within the area at the Farnham Lane site.
Although not part of the appeal Local Plan pt 2 is important: Residents must support the exclusion of the site from the last stage of the Local Plan Review process. The Local Plan is in its final stages, with Local Plan Part 2 (LPP2) currently being open for consultation on the final changes that are proposed. LPP2 sets out the proposed allocations for the area. The Red Court site was previously included but has now been deleted as a proposed allocation from LPP2. The brownfield Royal School site at Hindhead is now a proposed allocation for 90 dwellings. This site is much more suitable for residential development than the Red Court site as it is a brownfield site, has established and good access points and will be vacant in the near future and in need of reuse. Furthermore it will enable the retention of the Royal School within the area at the Farnham Lane site.
Some Background Information