Issue - meetings

Height and Scale of New Buildings across Woking

Meeting: 08/04/2021 - Council (Item 7)

Height and Scale of New Buildings across Woking EXE21-021

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At its meeting, the Executive had received a report on the height and scale of new buildings across Woking.  The report had been drawn up following a Notice of Motion on the matter submitted by Councillor Lyons at the end of 2020 and had set out existing guidance and the implications of introducing height restrictions on development in the Town Centre.  The recommendations of the Executive were outlined by the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Councillor Elson.

In response to the recommendations from the Executive, Councillor Lyons moved and Councillor Barker seconded the following amendment:

“(iii)    the implementation of a new Town Centre Masterplan be brought forward such that all relevant consultations begin within three months, with a view to the Council determining as soon as the Planning Inspectorate has reported on the Site Allocations DPD, inter alia, what (if any) height limit should be set on future developments.”

The Council debated the amendment before the matter was put to a vote.  A number of Members expressed the desire to provide residents with an opportunity to comment on the height of buildings in the Town Centre with a view to giving residents some clarity.  The Portfolio Holder advised that a consultation was to be undertaken in the summer.

Following the discussion and in accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the amendment were recorded. The Mayor advised that she would not be voting.

In favour:                  Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, A-M Barker, A Boote, G Chrystie, W Forster, D Hughes, I Johnson, R Leach, L Lyons, L Morales, M I Raja and J Sanderson

Total in favour:         13

Against:                    Councillor S Ashall, A Azad, G Cundy, K Davis, G Elson, D Harlow, K Howard, S Hussain, N Martin, R Mohammed, C Rana and M Whitehand.

Total against:           12

Present not voting:   The Mayor, Councillor Mrs B A Hunwicks

The amendment was therefore carried by 13 votes in favour and 12 votes against.

The Council had before it the substantive recommendations as amended. 

RESOLVED

That (i)    the existing guidance on the design of development, including tall buildings in the town centre, as set out in Section 2 of the report, be noted;

          (ii)   the consequential impacts for introducing height limits on development in the town centre, as set out in Section 3 of the report, be noted; and

          (iii)  the implementation of a new Town Centre Masterplan be brought forward such that all relevant consultations begin within three months, with a view to the Council determining as soon as the Planning Inspectorate has reported on the Site Allocations DPD, inter alia, what (if any) height limit should be set on future developments.


Meeting: 25/03/2021 - Executive (Item 8)

8 Height and Scale of New Buildings across Woking EXE21-021 pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Reporting Person – Douglas Spinks

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Following the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Lyons and supported by Council on 3 December 2020, the Executive received a report setting out the existing guidance on ensuring high quality design and the implications for introducing height restrictions on development within the town centre.  A correction was highlighted in the first line of paragraph 2.1 of the report; the word ‘undermined’ should read ‘underpinned’.

The Executive heard that Councillor Lyons had submitted the Motion in light of concerns over the number of planning applications received by the Council for large scale tower blocks and the changing character of the Town Centre.  Officers advised that the Local Plan documents referred to in the report would remain in force until the next review of the Core Strategy scheduled to be undertaken in 2023.  As proposed in the Corporate Plan 2021-22, residents would be engaged through the Big Conversation and this would inform the next Core Strategy review.

The Leader of the Council invited Councillor Lyons to provide Ernest Amoako, Planning Policy Manager, with potential sites in the Town Centre which Officers could explore.

The Deputy Chief Executive drew attention to the Council’s obligation to properly plan the development of the Borough in excess of 15 years.  The need to ensure that the policies in place were properly applied was stressed, as those policies had been through proper and due process.  The Executive noted that a possible height limit on tall buildings could become a minimum target height for developers resulting in buildings of the same tallness being proposed.

REcommended to Council

That  (i)    the existing guidance on the design of development, including tall buildings in the town centre, as set out in Section 2 of the report, be noted;

          (ii)   the consequential impacts for introducing height limits on development in the town centre, as set out in Section 3 of the report, be noted; and

          (iii)  the current suite of Local Plan documents referred to in the report remain in force until the next review which is due in 2023 and which will be informed by the Big Conversation which is proposed in the Corporate Plan 2021 – 2022.

Reason:   To inform Members of the existing guidance on the design of development and the implication for setting height limit on development at the town centre.