Berkeley Homes has submitted two new planning applications 26/P/00146 and 26/P/00147 for the Effingham Lodge Farm site. (In addition, application 25/P/01128 to reduce the size of the school from 2,000 to 1,600 pupils is still awaiting a decision from Guildford Borough Council (GBC)).
The new applications include a Financial Viability Report supporting Berkeley Homes’ claim that the current scheme is still not financially viable. As a result, Berkeley Homes is applying to amend the Section 106 Agreement that was part of the scheme approval and provides a funding contribution for a replacement KGV Hall. The amendments are: (a) reduce the percentage of affordable homes from 20% to 0% and (b) increase the number of homes that can be built and sold before starting building the school. The increase is from 50 on each of the two Lodge Farm sites to 150 with no restriction on their location. If Berkeley Homes is allowed to delete the affordable homes, it is likely to want to vary the housing mix to what it considers will be most saleable.
The planning applications on the GBC planning portal give a closing consultation date of 13th March but, as not all documents are available, EFFRA has queried whether this is incorrect and is awaiting a reply.
Berkeley Homes invited representatives from EFFRA, Effingham Parish Council and The Howard Partnership Trust to a meeting to discuss the amendments being sought. This meeting was held on Wednesday 18th February. Berkeley Homes made it clear that if the amendments to the scheme are not approved, it is likely to apply for housing on Lodge Farm as a ‘grey belt’ site without a new school so that some return on their investment to date is achieved. Berkeley Homes stated that building the school was its preference and is open to further discussions to improve the “gateway” to the new development from Lower Road which is unattractive. Berkeley Homes also said it was open to adding a mechanism to the new agreement to reassure the community the school would then be built if the changes are agreed by GBC.
You can’t trust them. They have the money to sit on the site until they can bully the council and residents in to building more houses without the school Never thought they would build the school in the first place. The council should fund and rebuild the school in situ, refuse planning, pay for the land to put a car park on – maybe where the old glasshouses were. Then return the remaining land back to a community space. It’s what we pay our rates for.
What a disgraceful company and only to be expected. If the council and planners agree to these demands expect further negative embellishments further down the line. This planning farrago follows a well used path of promising a lot but delivering something worse. The council must not be threatened and must stand firm.
Disappointingly, Berkeley Homes will do exactly what they want disregarding any previous agreement they have been a party too.
They are totally untrustworthy and should not be considered worthy, let alone enter into discussions with
They will not stick to any agreements made, just squirm to turn the situation for a total win for them, disregarding all others.