The Planning and Regulatory Committee met to discuss a proposal by Surrey County Council to build a new junior school at Woodhatch Place, and an application relating to Hookwood Waste Management Centre. The committee voted to approve the school proposal, and to refuse the application relating to Hookwood Waste Management Centre.

Public Question Time

Prior to the main business, the committee addressed questions from the public.

Sarah Freeman asked about enforcement action regarding the restoration of the Horse Hill site, to which the chair responded that discussions were ongoing regarding timeframes and deadlines for restoration.

Jakki Phillips asked about monitoring visits to the Horse Hill site. The Planning Development Manager said the last visit was on 20 March 2025, but that updated site pictures had been provided by the operator in June 2025.

Deborah Elliott asked how early Surrey County Council could act and serve a similar notice for the Horse Hill site, given that UKOG had relinquished its licences for exploration at Broadford Bridge and Loxley sites, and Broadford Bridge had not been restored within the allocated timeframe. The Planning Development Manager stated that a planning contravention notice, which is an information gathering tool, had already been used in the Horse Hill case.

Jackie Macey asked if the council had received assurances from UKOG that they had allocated funds for the restoration of the Horse Hill site. The chair said that this question had been answered in previous meetings and there was no further response.

Surrey County Council Proposal - Land at Woodhatch Place

The committee considered an application by Surrey County Council (SCC) for the erection of a school on land at Woodhatch Place. The application sought permission for a part one, part two and part three storey building to provide a 5-form entry junior school, with sports pitches, a hard play area, car parking, a new internal access road and associated landscaping.

The Planning Development Team Leader, Dawn Hawthorne Baker, introduced the item, noting that the application had previously been considered by the committee in February 2023, but had been referred back to the applicant due to concerns relating to highways, design and residential amenity. She said that the applicant had since submitted additional and amended information to address these concerns.

The key points of discussion were:

• Educational Need: The committee heard that Surrey County Council, as the Education Authority, had concluded that the existing site of Rygate Priory Junior School could not be reasonably adapted and that there was a need to relocate the school. Julia Catherine, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning at Surrey County Council, said that the school's pupils deserved to be educated in a modern learning environment. Sangeeta Redgrave, Deputy Director for Capital Investment in London at the Department for Education, spoke in support of the application, stating that it was a purpose-built, operationally net carbon zero school that met the latest building bulletins for internal and external spaces. Oliver Moses, Head Teacher of Rygate Priory School, spoke passionately about the unsuitability of the existing school building, citing safety and accessibility concerns.
• Alternative Sites: Some members of the committee questioned whether alternative sites had been adequately considered, including the possibility of expanding the existing school site. Claire Allen, a local resident, spoke in favour of a hybrid proposal to redevelop the existing school site. However, Dawn Hawthorne Baker said that the planning application was focusing on a like-for-like relocation of the school and that the education authority had determined that there continued to be a need for the school places in this area.
• Highways and Transportation: The committee discussed the potential impact of the proposed development on traffic and parking in the area. James Ahane, a highways colleague, said that the proposals included extensive footway and crossing improvements, as well as speed reduction measures. David Holdaway, Director of Velocity, said that the proposals included a dedicated school shuttle bus service and increased on-site vehicle stacking capacity. Several members of the public raised concerns about the safety of children walking to school along Cockshot Hill, and the potential for increased congestion and parking problems in neighbouring streets.
• Residential Amenity: The committee considered the potential impact of the proposed development on the amenity of neighbouring residents, particularly those living in The Belvederes apartment block. Luke Carter, a planning consultant representing residents of The Belvederes, said that the scale of the building was overwhelming and that the design remained largely unaltered. Catherine Bart, the county councillor for Ellswood and Vicate South, said that the proposed development would have a major to moderate adverse visual impact on residents of The Belvederes.
• Biodiversity: The committee discussed the potential impact of the proposed development on biodiversity. It was noted that the proposal would result in the loss of some trees and habitats, but that the applicant was proposing to mitigate this through a biodiversity net gain strategy, including off-site enhancements at Kinnersley Manor Farm.

After a lengthy debate, Councillor Edward Hawkins, Chairman of the Council, moved a proposal to approve the application subject to the conditions set out in the report, with the hours of use amended to 21:30. This proposal was supported by a majority of members, and the application was approved.

Minerals/Waste Application - Land at Hookwood Waste Management Centre

The committee then considered an application relating to Hookwood Waste Management Centre. The application sought permission to vary conditions relating to hours of working and noise, to allow certain operations to take place over a longer time period on weekdays, from 07:00 to 18:00 hours to 07:00 to 02:00 hours.

The key points of discussion were:

• Impact on Residential Amenity: The committee heard that the proposed extension of operational hours would likely create a source of noise and general disturbance during times of the night when local residents would have a reasonable expectation of quiet.
• Need for Extended Hours: The committee questioned whether the applicant had provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate the need for the extended hours, and the tangible benefits that would be derived from the proposal.

After a brief discussion, Councillor Hawkins moved a proposal to refuse the application, which was supported by a majority of members.

Other Matters

The committee also noted the content of the Authority Monitoring Report 2023.

The next meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Committee will be on 24 September 2025.