We’ve covered a series of planning applications for the ‘deeply unpopular’ sports stadium at Waterside Drive on the south bank of the Thames since 2012. First there was an outline planning application which lapsed in July 2015. Elmbridge tried to renew that with a full planning application in the same month, but that was halted by the Secretary of State who ordered them to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment to consider the impact on the Thames landscape, Lower Sunbury Conservation Area and local residents.
Once the Environmental Statement was complete, the Sports Stadium was debated at the North Area Planning Sub-Committee on the 14th December 2015 followed by the Full Planning Committee on the 5th January 2016. LOSRA wrote to object to the impact of the floodlighting and the noise on residents; and along with Spelthorne’s planners we requested that Elmbridge consider planting evergreen trees to mask the floodlights and acoustic barriers to reduce the noise, and asked Elmbridge to consider restricting the number of days the stadium and pitches would be in use to give residents some respite.
Unfortunately the planning application was approved, despite it being in the Green Belt. In our view, it conflicts with their National Planning Policy Framework requirement to preserve the openness of Green Belt.
LOSRA understands that there will be a preliminary hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand on the 25th May 2016. This has been brought by a group of Parke Road residents, along with the Weir Hotel, to decide whether they can appeal against the planning decision in a Judicial Review. They maintain the impact on local residents’ lives will be significant. We will report on whether they are successful in securing an appeal.