Decision on plans for 461 new homes delayed

A decision on controversial plans for 461 new homes on former Surrey green belt land has been delayed.

The application, for land off Parvis Road in West Byfleet, was submitted by Barratt Homes in July and has received more than 400 objections.

Objectors include the newly-elected MP Will Forster, councillor Ellen Nicholson and former ward member Josh Brown who has previously spoken against the plans.

Planning documents submitted by the developer said the scheme would provide "a multitude of benefits" and Barratt Homes has been contacted for further comment.

Officers had been due to give their opinions on the designs this month, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, but the decision has now been pushed back to February.

The scheme has faced fierce backlash from residents and politicians who labelled the project, a 12-minute walk from the centre of West Byfleet, as "completely inappropriate", criticised its impact on traffic, and said it would overwhelm local infrastructure.

Mr Forster said: "I wish to object to the proposed application at West Hall on the grounds of traffic congestion, insufficient sustainable transport options, failure to meet active travel requirements and insufficient CIL funding to provide the required school places."

The land was released for development by Woking Borough Council in October 2021 for up to 555 homes and 15 Traveller pitches, so the application is within the council’s guidelines.

Barratt Homes hopes to build the project in two phases and has held nine separate pre-application meetings with Woking Borough Council officers to get the designs right.

A planning statement in support said the layout had been designed to "make best use" of the site and the natural landscape including retaining existing woodland, tree belts and orchard.

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