A joint statement by your local residents associations
At a meeting in early in January, Spelthorne’s planning committee approved an application by Shepperton Studios for a backlot on a six acre site within the new development. This site was origi-nally earmarked for a car park so it seemed there was no direct, adverse impact. However the conse-quence is for a six storey car park to be constructed adjacent to the new studio entrance on Shepperton Road. The latest studios masterplan is very different from the original planning application approved in 2019. As well as the six storey car park a further parking area has been designated close to the new entrance. The detrimental visual impact of the multi-story from Shepperton Road is clear.
Of greater import, the increase in parking by the main entrance will divert staff and visitors from the Studios Road entrance to the new main entrance, thereby increasing traffic on Shepperton and Lale-ham Roads. Extremely detailed traffic surveys were carried out for the original application. These were based on original assumptions that are now incorrect. The increase in traffic volume through Laleham and at the Studios end of Laleham Road is unacceptable.
The Charlton Village, Laleham and Shepperton Residents Associations each made objections to the proposed location of the six storey car park follow-ing an application last autumn and more recently asked for the two matters to be considered togeth-er. This request was refused at the January meet-ing. Accordingly the full implications of the com-mittee’s decision were not taken into account.
The committee’s discussion highlighted scant consideration by planning officers and committee for residents’ concerns. It demonstrated a lack of understanding in 2019 of issues that would arise from the wide ranging outline approval. Discussion on the six storey car park was strangled by it being con-sidered under “reserved matters” as opposed to a “full” application. It demonstrated that the detailed design of the site could be significantly altered without further dialogue with residents.
The planning officer stated that the original traffic survey was adequate to cover the repositioning of the multi-storey car park to the southern part of the site. This was unbelievable bearing in mind the significant change in traffic flow as a result of this decision. Subsequent to the meeting he approved the reserved matter application for the six storey car park without any further consultation.
At the meeting, great play was made of the “economic” reason as “very special circumstances” for building on the green belt. The winners from that investment will be the builders and the special-ist workers who will predominately be from out-side Spelthorne. Certainly not local residents. Now that Netflix has taken over most of the proposed financial benefit will go to the USA, with very little tax taken in the UK.
The concerns of residents of Charlton Village, Laleham and Shepperton have been pushed aside by the planning committee and officers throughout this process. They have effectively given carte blanche to the Studios to do whatever they want to do on the site.
Residents have been badly let down. We deserve better.
