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Our residents’ association have been concerned about the number of e-scooters being driven on our roads and pavements. At this current time they are illegal with the exception of areas where they are conducting trials. A member of our executive committee wrote to a Government Minister and received a very detailed reply which you can read below.

64, 76 And 78 Leatherhead Road Chessington KT9 2HY. Extension to foodstore building and demolition of residential properties at No.s 76 and 78 Leatherhead Road to facilitate an extension to the store car park with associated works. A similar application was made in 2016. It was refused by RBK. The applicant went to appeal and the application was upheld. You can read about the history of the planning application and CDRA’s comments under planning news.

This planning application has been refused. You can read the many reasons for rejection under planning news. However, the applicant has appealed. The Inspectorate in Bristol is opening a virtual inquiry at 10.00am on 21 September 2021.

What is the Air Pollution Level Where you live?

In the Times newspaper last week there was an interesting article. The Imperial College London have a website where you can input your postcode and house number to get a report on levels of three pollutants: fine particles known as PM2.5’s, larger particles called PM10’s and NO2,nitrogen dioxide, a gas that in urban areas is omitted largely by diesel vehicles. Imperial College London are encouraging estate agents to include this information when they put properties on the market. The website address is addresspollution.org

Cap in Hand Planning Application – Refused

20/01932/FUL – This third planning application was  to demolish the existing Public House and build 39 x 1, 2 & 3 bedroom housing units up to 7 storey’s in height together with 20 off-street car parking spaces. 

We and the residents who live in the surrounding roads and whose lives would be blighted by this development were wholly opposed to this planning application. 

We are pleased to advise that the RBK planning department rejected this application for 16 reasons.  The reasons are attached.

Whilst we are pleased that this totally unsuitable planning application was rejected, we are also aware that the current building is an eye sore.  We hope that a smaller more suitable application will be considered in the future.  However, it is very likely that the applicant Mendoza, will appeal.

A new planning application has been put in for the Tolworth Tower plus a further two towers. If approved it will be a very large development of about 500 new units. We are very concerned about the lack of  infrastructure in this area as if approved these 500 new housing units will be in addition to the 950 housing units on the former Government site, already approved, next to the bowling alley.

The current tower is to be converted into 261 flats and the two new towers would have 136 and 102 flats. On the 2018 planning application the intention was for the flats to be rented. However, the plan has changed, now the expectation is that they will all be for sale. There is to be no affordable housing.

You can read a very comprehensive report made by the CDRA Executive member in charge of planning in our planning section as well as the Kingston upon Thames Society’s response.

The reason that we have so many inappropriate planning applications such as the 11 – 25 Leatherhead Road, being approved by our Council is that Kingston have very high housing targets to meet.  If Kingston do not meet them, they are in ‘tilted balance’ which means that planning decisions could be taken away from our Council and made centrally. 

We are sure you would agree that in view of this information it is very important that these housing targets are both fair and achievable.   The housing targets were increased because we were expecting to have Crossrail 2 come to Kingston.  Now it seems highly unlikely that it will ever come.  Consequently, the housing targets should be reduced.  Our CDRA Officer for Planning has written to Caroline Kerr the Leader of RBK asking a number of pertinent questions.  Click here to read:- http://www.chessingtondra.org.uk/over-development-in-kingston/

A company called Poppymill have apparently purchased land at the end of Clayton Road, alongside the A3. It is a total of 20 acres of land. Their intention is to build a large number of houses and a school whilst leaving much parkland. You can read more about it on this website in our October newsletter.

CDRA Newsletters

www.kingston.gov.uk/coronavirus