Following a hearing in November, the Planning Inspectorate has allowed an appeal submitted on behalf of the Big Yellow Self Storage Company and granted planning permission for a new self-storage facility on East Street within Epsom Town Centre.
The approved development comprises the demolition of the existing retail warehouse and the construction of a new building containing 8,228m2 of floorspace for self-storage and flexible office uses, together with new landscaping along the East Street frontage. Initially, an appeal was submitted against the non-determination of the application, with Epsom & Ewell Council advising that they would have refused the application on four grounds at a Planning Committee shortly after.
The site forms part of Epsom Town Centre and part of ‘The Utilities Site’, being one of the Council’s key strategic site allocations.
With the Council’s development plan out-of-date, Paragraph 11(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework 2023 was engaged, and the tilted balance could be applied.
However, the Inspector concluded that the proposal did not result in any adverse effects and accorded with the policies relating to the four reasons for refusal, thereby not needing to balance the application.
The reasons for refusal related to the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area including protected trees; whether the development would prejudice the delivery of future development on adjacent sites; the effect of the development on the living conditions of occupants of Crossways House in relation to light; and whether the development would make adequate provision for parking.
In doing so, the Inspector rebutted the Council’s assertion of prematurity concluding that the aspiration for comprehensive redevelopment of The Utilities Site was not new and, given past lack of delivery, holds limited credibility.
Furthermore, the Inspector concluded that it would provide a beneficial employment use, with the provision of floorspace for land uses for which a need in the borough had been identified, and support the generation of approximately 300-400 jobs.
For more information, please contact Andrew Deller or Aimée Whitehead.