Hersham Residents Association

HRA active positive and non-political since 1971

HRA submission on application for Food Store with Flats above at Riverdene Business Park 27/02/15

By email

Head of Planning Services

Elmbridge Borough Council,
Civic Centre,
High Street,
Esher,
Surrey
KT10 9SD

27th February 2015

Dear Head of Planning Services,

Proposed Food Store with Flats above at Riverdene Business Park, Hersham: App. No. 2014/5061

This proposed food store should prove a useful addition to Hershams retail facilities and the proposed 38 flats above will help to meet the demand in Hersham for less expensive dwellings. It is therefore unfortunate that the application has been made in the name of LIDL employee not by the company itself. A number of local people have not realised that Miss Abigaile Hiles is apparently making the application on behalf LIDL UK Gmbh. The Company should be asked to write an open letter confirming that Miss Hiles is in fact acting as their fully authorised agent. Once this letter has been publicized the period for comments on the application should be extended by at least 4 weeks.

Our initial comments on the application are as follows:-

1) The grey concrete cladding slabs on parts of the outside of the building are drab and depressing. The developers should be invited to substitute brighter and more cheerful cladding material;

2) It is unsatisfactory that delivery vehicles will have to drive through the car park before getting to the unloading bay. We understand that the developers plan to make deliveries out of shopping hours. Are they satisfied that this can be achieved at busy times such as Christmas and Easter? A firm condition enforcing this should be attached to any planning permission that may be granted if it is impossible to move the delivery bay to the more easily accessible front of the building;

3) We note that various items including landscaping and drainage are not currently covered by the application. Conditions ensuring that satisfactory proposals for these items are submitted and approved by the Council prior the start of any building should be attached to any planning permission that the Council decides to grant.

We may have further comments to make once there has been more time to study this important application.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Sturgis

President - Hersham Residents Association