Berkeley Homes recently requested a meeting with Effingham representatives to provide an update on the proposal given permission at appeal last year to rebuild the Howard School on land at Effingham Lodge Farm, paid for by building 295 homes across three sites in Effingham. (See earlier posts)
The EFFRA committee agreed to send its Chairman and Deputy Chairman as representatives to the meeting to listen to Berkeley Homes’ update and ask any relevant questions. The County and Borough Councillors, the Parish Council Chairman and an EVRT trustee also attended the meeting for the village, together with a resident with relevant experience. Berkeley Homes informed the Effingham representatives that they are considering a further planning application for 55 additional homes on Effingham Lodge Farm, to help fill the funding gap which they say has arisen due to uncertainties in the housing market and the rising cost of school construction. They also stated that they have submitted a planning application for the reserved matters for the new school and will shortly do so for houses on Effingham Lodge Farm site. (Outline planning only was given so a detailed planning application has to be submitted).
The Effingham side of the Liaison Group met on 19 August to discuss the new proposals, and notes of this meeting can be found here.
Effingham Parish Council discussed the issue on 27 August.
EFFRA will post any further developments to keep residents fully informed.