We welcome the news that the Inspector has dismissed the Debenhams appeal.
We thank Spelthorne’s planning officers, who strenuously argued for refusal at the Planning Committee in June 2022 and again at the appeal in May 2023. Both decisions are on SBC website, Planning Application 21/01772/FUL.
However, the Inspector’s Report makes it very clear that without a Local Plan, we in Staines (and Spelthorne) are extremely vulnerable to predatory developers – this is because the legal process of consultation and examination of our local plan has been “paused”. Fortunately, Debenhams was protected and saved by its status as a heritage site, this will not apply to other would-be development sites in Staines, including green belt land.
OUR NEED FOR A LOCAL PLAN NOW IS GREATER THAN EVER.
We know the Local Plan is not ideal but to have no Local Plan is far worse!
Please contact your councillor urging them to vote against any further review or “pause” of the Local Plan and allow the examination of the Local Plan by the Inspector to resume.
Recent Comments