Surrey housing plan cleared after cycle path ruled impossible

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 11:32 · Archive

A decade-long planning dispute over 140 homes in Windlesham has progressed after the required cycle path was deemed impossible to build safely.

A decade-long planning dispute over a housing development in Windlesham, Surrey, has progressed after inspectors agreed that a mandatory cycle and pedestrian path could not be built safely. The project, originally planned for 140 homes, has been scaled back to 116 homes at Crownfield Court. Existing roads and pavements are too narrow to accommodate the shared cycle path without making access less safe than before.

The scheme has faced strong opposition from residents and Queen guitarist Brian May's animal protection trust Save Me since Surrey Heath Borough Council first rejected it in 2016. The developers won on appeal after inspectors ruled the council did not have sufficient deliverable land to meet housing targets. Residents have continued to oppose the development, citing increased pollution and concerns about traffic-calming measures.

Surrey Heath Borough Council's planning committee has now approved the introduction of 20 mph speed restrictions with speed bumps along the road, to be implemented by the time the 100th home is occupied. Windlesham and Chobham councillor Victoria Wheeler expressed disappointment, suggesting that nobody had properly measured the available width for the cycle path before it was made a requirement.

How it is being reported

• Decade-long planning saga over 140 Surrey homes clears hurdle as cycle path scrappedA controversial decade-long planning saga for up to 140 Surrey homes is coming to an end after it was agreed that an impossible cycle-safety path was no longer central to the homes’ construction.Farnham Herald · 21 Oct, 10:58
• Decade-long saga over 140 new homes plan in Surrey village makes progress despite celeb pushbackA controversial plan to build 140 new homes in a Surrey village is coming to an end despite strong pushback from residents and Queen guitarist Brian MaySurrey Live · 20 Oct, 15:37

In this story: Windlesham · Surrey Heath Borough Council · Brian May · Save Me · Crownfield Court

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