Comments for Planning Application 25/01461/FUL

The residents of Stanwell Moor object to the “unchecked industrialisation” of our village and the associated increase in commercial traffic through a residential area.

Cappagh Public Ltd have operated for many years on the junction of the roundabout of the A3004 and the perimeter road. They operate to and from the perimeter and main roads so do not affect small villages like ours. The business has 5.3 hectares or (19 acres of land) in their current site. I put it to Spelthorne Council that Cappagh Public Ltd have more than enough land on their current site to accommodate their expansion plans without bringing more commercial traffic and suffering to the most blighted village within the Heathrow perimeter.

For Cappagh Ltd to seek to open another depot within the heart of a small village without thought to the impact it will have to the people who live there is disgraceful.

In Stanwell Moor we have spent many years campaigning for the ‘reduction of blight’ in regard to Heavy Goods Vehicles and other vehicles on our village roads as they are not suitable for this kind of traffic. This has led to protracted negotiations with Highways at Surrey County Council and planning applications through Spelthorne Borough Council where we were successful in 2022 when double-yellow lines were installed on Spout Lane and Horton Road, which saw an end to hundreds of vehicles on our roads.

My objection is based on these planning grounds:

1. Highways, Traffic and Safety

The proposal is not acceptable due to the increase in commercial or HGV vehicle movements along Spout Lane, which is narrow, riddled with potholes and is unsuitable for HGV traffic or intensified commercial use. This development would constitute a real danger to our residents as Spout Lane is hardly able to accommodate our local bus service and resident’s vehicles entering the village from Airport Way.

2. Additional traffic through Village

Should this application be allowed it would mean HGV traffic would be required to exit eastwards through Stanwell Moor village. There is no access to Airport Way to the north despite what the application states and they cannot exit to the M25 due to the 7.5T weight restricted bridge at the Mill. The village has had to fight against industrialisation and an increase in commercial traffic. Stanwell Moor is a residential area with a children’s playground and community buildings. What we need is a zebra crossing on Horton Road to the park and speed bumps – Not more misery!

3. Overdevelopment

Although a Certificate of Lawfulness has been granted for the existing building (Use Class B8), the demolition and erection of new office, welfare, and maintenance buildings residents believe this application represents a significant over development of the site.

The drawings show the new construction height is 8.5m an increase of 1.5m above the existing building. The unit overall is significantly larger. Residents are concerned by what they see as further unabated urbanisation of Stanwell Moor.

4. Environmental Concerns and Flood Risk

The increase in hard standing to be replaced with reinforced concrete raises even more concerns regarding surface water drainage, the loss of permeable ground, existing gulley’s and flood risk. There is insufficient detail to demonstrate these impacts can be mitigated.

5. The Environment Agency

*I agree with the Environment Agency who on the 16th of January objected to this application stating:

“We object to this application as it involves works (the installation of a new fence) that may be within 8 metres of a culvert, the Holme Lodge Drain main river culvert. The proposal does not comply with the requirements for planning, as it does not adequately assess the impact of the development’s proximity to the culvert.”

*I also agree that the development is contrary to paragraph 181 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy E3 of the Emerging Spelthorne Local Plan.

To conclude: For the reasons above I put it to you that this planning application constitutes an unacceptable commercial blight which will mean a significant amount of commercial traffic coming through our village, that it conflicts with local planning policies and it should be refused. I further submit that this cannot be determined under ‘delegated powers’ and should it be necessary, it must go to a full planning committee.

Request: – On this occasion as acting Chairman of Stanwell Moor Residents Association [SMRA] should it be required, I would ask to present the case (against) this planning application to the Planning Committee on behalf of the residents of Stanwell Moor in Chambers and Knowle Green.

Kind regards,
Jim McIlroy.