Swallow Tiles Clay Works, Bookhurst Road

Welcome to the public consultation website for the emerging planning proposals for the Swallow Tiles Clay Works, Bookhurst Road, Cranleigh.

Following the public exhibition held in early November 2011, Inverdunning Ltd and Linden Homes (Guildford) have now submitted their outline planning application to Waverley Borough Council for a development of 58 dwellings (including 24 affordable houses and flats) at the former Swallow Tiles site in Cranleigh.

The proposals take on board many of the comments made in response to the public exhibition as well as concerns raised in respect to the previously refused scheme.

The main changes between the current proposal and the refused scheme can be summarised as follows:

• A more traditional layout that respects its woodland setting;
• Considerable improvement to the design of the proposed access off Bookhurst Road. The roundabout has been reduced in size from a 32m diameter to 28m diameter junction and off-set from Bookhurst Road to help slow down traffic and maintain the wooded character of the road as approached from either direction. Specimen planting will help create an attractive gateway feature for both the proposed development site and the eastern entrance to the village;
• Retention of more trees on the site with 63 fewer individual specimen trees removed than under the earlier scheme, and 54 of those saved are higher quality category A and B specimens;
• Transfer of 13.83ha (34.1 acres) of ancient woodland to a conservation trust in perpetuity, together with a substantial endowment for its management. This is over 3ha (7.4 acres) more woodland than was offered under the earlier scheme, and will permanently safeguard the area for its conservation value;
• The area of ancient woodland retained has increased by 0.5ha (1.2 acres) over the previous scheme: only 0.89ha (2.2 acres) will now be removed, as opposed to 1.39ha (3.4 acres) lost under the earlier proposals;
• Submission of a landscape scheme, which includes specimen tree, woodland thicket, hedgerow and shrub planting;
• Provision of an Outline Landscape Management Plan, which will ensure the management of the existing and new landscape features on the site and land in the control of the applicants in perpetuity;
• Increased provision of affordable housing (24 homes which represents 41% provision);
• Provision of children’s play area within the site;
• Removal of the employment use on the site;
• Removal of internal roundabouts;
• Shared cycle/footways through the site.

The benefits if this scheme is approved can be summarised as follows:

• Cessation of the clay extraction and industrial uses;
• The restoration and enhancement of the landscape;
• The long term protection of 13.83ha of Ancient Woodland;
• The provision of 34 market houses and
• 24 affordable houses and flats.

Further Information and Next Steps

The application is supported by a number of technical reports which examine in detail the impact of the proposal on ecology, trees, drainage and the highway network.

They provide further information on the way in which the scheme compares with the previously refused application and these documents will be available to view on the Council’s website in due course.

You will be given the opportunity to comment on the planning application and we would welcome your support.

The exhibition boards are available to download here. A feedback form for the exhibition can be downloaded here.

If you would have any queries regarding the site, you can contact us at swallowtilesconsultation@boyerplanning.co.uk