The Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee convened to discuss community grants, planning applications, and the Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme. The committee approved a Neighbourhood Community Grant and two allocations of Councillor Ward Funding. They also approved two planning applications, one for a change of use to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and another for the erection of a detached dwelling.

Community Grants Programme

The committee approved a £2,000 Neighbourhood Community Grant and an allocation of £1,000 of Councillor Ward Funding for the application from Man&Boy, an organisation supporting families that have experienced relationship breakdown. The funding will support their Stronger Families Surbiton project, which aims to deliver focused support to six referred beneficiaries from Surbiton wards who face multiple barriers, including family separation and challenges in building positive relationships. The programme includes activities such as camping, climbing, kayaking, and mentoring.

The committee also approved the allocation of £1,100 of Councillor Ward Funding to support the Kingston Tamil Heritage Group, which comprises four prominent Tamil organisations. The funding will support the Kingston Tamil Heritage and Harvest Festival, a celebration of Tamil culture and heritage, which will take place at Richard Challoner School in New Malden.

Finally, the committee approved the allocation of £1,200 of Councillor Ward Funding to support the Surbiton Club for the Blind, an independent charity supporting blind and visually impaired people in the local community. The funding will help fund their Christmas lunch, which takes place at Old Cranleighians Sports Club and is considered the highlight of the year for members and helpers alike.

Planning Application: Willow Grange, 1-3 Adelaide Road, Surbiton, KT6 4TA

The committee agreed to approve an application for a change of use at Willow Grange, 1-3 Adelaide Road, from a care home (Use Class C2¹) to a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) providing specialist supported accommodation for vulnerable individuals (Use Class Sui Generis²). The approval is subject to conditions and the completion of a legal agreement.

The proposed HMO would include 38 single ensuite rooms for a maximum occupancy of 38 persons across three floors, with shared kitchen, dining, and living rooms. The proposal also includes associated external alterations, changes to fenestration, provision of refuse storage, vehicle and cycle parking, landscaping, and plant.

The application was brought to the committee due to 16 objections received. Key concerns raised included the loss of the care home, the land use being out of keeping with the residential character of the neighbourhood, and increased noise and disturbance.

However, the planning officer's report argued that the existing care home is also an employment-generating use, and the proposed new use, being the HMO for vulnerable people, has an employment generating capacity which would be comparable to the existing care home with up to seven full-time staff. The report also stated that while the change of use would lead to the loss of specialised accommodation for elderly residents, the proposal would instead provide specialised accommodation for another community group, being vulnerable individuals in need of supported housing.

The Surbiton Neighbourhood Conservation Areas Advisory Committee raised concerns that there was no evidence that CONNECT, the name on the Operational Management report, is a registered social housing provider. They suggested that poor management of a 38-person HMO could radically alter the residential character of Adelaide Road and, coupled with only modest internal communal facilities, could engender an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area, including noise and loitering.

The approval is subject to a number of conditions, including:

• The development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.
• The development must commence within three years.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the materials specified on the approved plans.
• Evidence of the proposed photovoltaic array must be submitted and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to first occupation.
• The hard surface must be made of porous materials.
• Evidence demonstrating the development has achieved the above CO2 emissions reductions must be submitted and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to first occupation.
• Evidence showing that the development has achieved internal water usage rates of no greater than 105L per person per day must be submitted and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to beneficial occupation.
• The refuse and recycling facilities as shown on the approved plans must be provided prior to beneficial occupation.
• The cycle parking facilities as shown on the approved plans must be provided prior to beneficial occupation.
• A construction management plan must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to any development taking place.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the submitted Concept Landscape Plan.
• Detailed plans of biodiversity provision must be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority before the development to which this permission relates is carried out.
• The car parking shown on the approved plans must be provided with a hard-bound, adequately-drained, dust-free surface prior to beneficial occupation.
• The development must achieve a minimum urban greening factor of 0.4.
• A scheme must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority to demonstrate that the noise level of 35 dB LAeq, 16 hour in living rooms and bedrooms during the daytime (0700 to 2300 hours) and 30 dBLAeq, 8 hour and 45 dBLAFmax during the night time (2300 to 0700 hours), in accordance with BS8233:2014, shall not be exceeded.
• The rating level of the noise determined by the cumulative sound emissions of the plant to which this permission relates shall be at least 5dBA lower than the existing background noise level at any given time of operation.
• Any external lighting installed at the site shall be angled so as to prevent any spillage or glare beyond the site's boundaries.
• The development must incorporate security measures to minimise the risk of crime and to meet the specific security needs of the development in accordance with Secured By Design³.
• A Secured by Design certificate or its equivalent awarded by a Designing Out Crime Officer from the Metropolitan Police Service on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority prior to occupation.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the submitted Fire Statement.

The approval is also subject to a legal agreement to:

• Restrict single occupancy of HMO rooms to 38 residents.
• Finalise the Operational Management Plan.
• Restrict residents from obtaining parking permits within the CPZ⁴.
• Secure a financial contribution of £40,999 towards the council's carbon offset fund.
• Monitor and report on carbon reduction targets.
• Require connection to a future District Heat Network, if feasible.

Planning Application: Land To The Rear Of 21-23 The Ridge, Surbiton, KT5 8HU

The committee agreed to approve an application for the demolition of an existing outbuilding and attached garage block and the erection of a part single storey/part two storey detached four-bedroom self-build dwelling at Land To The Rear Of 21-23 The Ridge, Surbiton. The approval is subject to conditions.

The application was brought to the committee due to a call-in request from ward councillors and eight objections received. Key concerns raised included the development being out of keeping with the local area, excessive scale and mass, and loss of natural light for neighbouring properties.

The planning officer's report stated that the proposal would make a small but positive contribution to the borough's housing supply targets and that the design and siting of the proposal would not adversely impact the character and appearance of the local area.

The approval is subject to a number of conditions, including:

• The development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.
• The development must commence within three years.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the materials specified on the approved plans.
• No additions or enlargements to any dwellinghouse(s) on the site shall be erected unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.
• Any windows at the ground floor and first floor level in the north, east, south and west elevation shall be constructed so that no part of the framework less than 1.7m above finished floor level shall be openable.
• The flat roof area(s) of the development shall not be used as a roof garden, balcony, seating area or other similar amenity area.
• The rating level of the noise determined by the cumulative sound emissions of the plant to which this permission relates shall be at least 5dBA lower than the existing background noise level at any given time of operation.
• Any external lighting installed at the site shall be angled so as to prevent any spillage or glare beyond the site's boundaries.
• Evidence the proposed photovoltaic array has been installed shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to first occupation.
• The hard surface must be made of porous materials.
• The car parking shown on the approved plans shall not be used for any purposes other than the parking of vehicles for the occupiers of and visitors to the development.
• A total of 2no. car parking space(s) shall be provided with active provision for electric vehicle charging points.
• Evidence showing that the development has achieved internal water usage rates of no greater than 105L per person per day have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to beneficial occupation.
• The cycle parking facilities as shown on the approved plans shall be provided prior to beneficial occupation.
• The refuse and recycling facilities as shown on the approved plans shall be provided prior to beneficial occupation.
• The drainage system as shown in the Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy shall be implemented in full and permanently maintained thereafter.
• The recommendations contained within the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Report shall be implemented in full and permanently retained thereafter.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the Arboricultural Report.
• A detailed landscape & planting plan shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to the commencement of any above-ground works.
• A construction management plan must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to any development taking place.
• All Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) of net power of 37kW and up to and including 560kW used during the course of the demolition, site preparation and construction phases shall comply with the emission standards set out in chapter 7 of the GLA's supplementary planning guidance Control of Dust and Emissions During Construction and Demolition dated July 2014 (SPG), or subsequent guidance.
• The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Fire Statement and thereafter maintained.

Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme

The committee received an information item regarding the Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme. The Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee approved a number of minor waiting and loading restriction changes in the Berrylands area on 17 December 2024, subject to the Traffic Management Order (TMO) process. The Director Highways, Transport and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, the relevant Portfolio Holder, and relevant Ward Members, was delegated authority to consider any objections to the TMO and decide on the way forward.

The director made an officer decision on 5 September 2025, in consultation with relevant councillors, regarding objections to the TMOs relating to the measures under the Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme.

The decision was:

• To set aside the objection(s) and proceed with the scheme for Surbiton Hill Park (double yellow lines opposite the bus stops between The Roystons and Chiltern Drive).
• To set aside the objection(s) and proceed with the scheme for the Chiltern Drive / Pine Walk junction (double yellow lines).
• To partially uphold the objection(s) and proceed with a modified scheme for the Raeburn Avenue / Pine Walk junction (double yellow lines). The proposal was amended to reduce the length of double yellow lines in Pine Walk from 21m to 7m.
• To uphold the objection(s) and NOT to proceed with the scheme for Hollyfield Road (removal of parking spaces at the King Charles Road end of the school). An alternative proposal, which would require a new TMO, will be prepared.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme, which includes the following items:

• Community Safety Update (Standing Item - Half Yearly) - 9 December 2025
• Ewell Road Cycle Route - Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) - 9 December 2025
• Neighbourhood Manager's Report - Ranger Activity Undertaken in 2025 (Standing Item - Annually) - 9 December 2025
• Surbiton Neighbourhood Community Plan - 20 January 2026
• Verona Drive - Parking Issues - 20 January 2026
• Tolworth Close - Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) Consultation - 20 January 2026
• Seething Wells - Update (Standing Item - 3 times a year) - TBC