Agenda item

Ward

Shepperton and Laleham Green

Proposal

Temporary change of use of land for car parking in support of temporary film-making operations.

Recommendation

Approve the application subject to conditions as set out in the Recommendation Section of the report  (paras. 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)

Description:

Temporary change of use of land for car parking in support of temporary film-making operations.

Additional Information:

The last sentence in paragraph 3.2 should be deleted as follows:

3.2 ‘There is an existing access to New road which currently serves Shepperton Splash and the car boot sale which operates on Saturdays during the summer months. The car boot area, which is on adjoining land under the ownership of the applicant is separate from this facility’

Revision to Condition 01 replacing 17 weeks with 19 weeks, ending 07 November 2025.

Public Speaking:

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at meetings, J Long, GSR Productions spoke for the proposed development raising the following key points:

1.    The application is for temporary parking for a 4 month period

2.    The land is currently used for parking by ‘Splash’ and as part of a car Boot sale at weekends.

3.    This application is not for additional parking but is an alternative space

4.    Over the 4 months the filed would only be used for 79 days

5.    Only 33 of the 79 days would result in more than 120 cars using the site

6.    No parking at weekends therefore will not impact on the ‘Splash’ visitors

7.    All cars would drive straight into the site and will then be checked some distance from the entrance thus preventing queuing on New Road

8.    No vans or trucks will park on this site

9.    Cars will arrive between 6am and 8am and leave between 6pm and 8pm.

10.Staff would be required to avoid Charlton Village and surrounding residential areas

11.Cars will initially use the spaces to the south of the site first which is screened from the main road by a copse of trees.

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at meetings, Councillor Howkins spoke as Ward Councillor against the proposed development raising the following key points:

1.The application is an inappropriate use of green belt land

2. This would result in an increase in traffic in the surrounding area

 3. This could result in the increase risk of flooding

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

1.    If the application was approved the applicant would have to repair any damage caused to the site

2.    The temporary parking would take place in a wet season so repairs would not be able to be undertaken until the following spring/summer

3.    The applicant would lay down matting across the site if there was a prolonged period of rain

4.    Surrey County Council Highways Department are planning on carrying out roadworks later in the year directly outside of the entrance so this could result in a gridlock situation in peak hours

5.    The site is uneven

6.    The applicant should be looking at alternative sites that may be more suitable

7.    Concerns around lighting needed on the site and the impact that this could have on residents

8.    Increase in the level of traffic would be to the detriment of the residents living in the surrounding area

9.    As this application is only for weekend parking this would not impact on the ability for the weekend car boot sale to be held

10.This is a ‘one-off’ request and would not be repeated

11.There would be a constant stream of traffic accessing and leaving the site from early in the morning until late at night

Councillor Clarke requested a recorded vote

The motion to approve the application FELL.

It was proposed by Councillor Geraci and seconded by Councillor Clarke that the Local Planning Authority is minded to refuse the application as it amounts to inappropriate development with the Green Belt under the NPPF and there are no very special circumstances that will outweigh any harm.

The Committee voted on the revised motion as follows:

For – 9

Against – 1

Abstain - 2

Decision:

The motion to refuse the application was carried for the following reason:

The application amounts to inappropriate development with the Green Belt under the NPPF and there are no very special circumstances that will outweigh any harm.