Latest news with #Elmbridge
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hersham Technology Park development plans unveiled
Initial plans build up to 300 homes on the site of a technology park in Surrey have been unveiled by Homes hopes to build approximately 190 apartments and 110 houses on the Hersham Technology Park site located on Molesey outline of the potential scheme has been submitted by the developer, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Homes has asked Elmbridge Borough Council for its view on the information it should supply for an Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposal. In May, the council agreed to progress negotiations to sell a piece of council-owned land next to the site. Although the land has not been sold yet, the Berkeley Homes has included it in the potential development could also include new public open spaces and play areas, with a green buffer maintained to the southern and western boundaries to protect the neighbouring residential documents show that while vehicle and pedestrian accesses are currently to be kept on Molesey Road there is the potential to adjust the location, including a possible new vehicular connection to councillors had said that they were considering relocating GP and library services closer to the heart of the Homes said it hopes to submit a full planning application later this year.
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Unauthorised moorings and abandoned boats tackled on River Thames
The "biggest obstacle" to clearing unauthorised and abandoned boats from the River Thames is a lack of funding for the Environment Agency (EA), said a council officer.A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) came into force on 17 June, restricting mooring to 24 hours with no return within 72 hours at five locations in Elmbridge, Wednesday, council, police and EA officers visited boats moored at Cigarette Island, opposite Hampton Court Palace, to serve trespass notices to overstaying Burrows, head of culture, leisure and environment at Elmbridge Borough Council, said the PSPO was intended to provide a a "long term solution to clearing this area up". He said: "We want this to be clear and open and shiny for all our residents to enjoy and people visiting the palace to look over and enjoy as well."The council will put £100,000 in to clearing unauthorised moorings this year, he the "biggest obstacle" he said at the moment was Environment Agency (EA) funding."They don't have the funding to do similar work up and down the Thames, so we are still pressing the EA and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to provide adequate funding to carry on this work and resolve this problem in Elmbridge once and for all," he said.A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said they welcomed the opportunity to assist in the enforcement operation on Wednesday."We understand the concerns raised by both residents and river users and will continue to take lawful and proportionate action," they added."We are committed to a partnership approach that provides for long term and sustainable solutions." As well as PSPO enforcement, abandoned and wrecked boats along the river are being cleared East councillor Kevin Whincup said the issue of unauthorised moorings along the river had been ongoing "for years"."Residents would like to see the boats gone and the river back to its normal use," he added. The PSPO is in place at Ditton Reach, Albany Reach, Cigarette Island, Cowey Sale , Hurst Park and Surrey County Council's land adjacent to Hampton Court bridge (Parrs mooring).It had previously been challenged in the High Court, amid claims the terms of the order were too "vague" to be enforceable, but the council won the National Bargee Travellers Association previously described the rule as "draconian" and said it would "punish people for the simple act of living in their homes".
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey's council reorganisation plans put to consultation
Residents are to be asked for their thoughts on plans for a reorganisation of councils in Surrey as part of a government of the plans being consulted on is for two unitary councils - one in the east and one in the west - which is supported by Surrey County Council, Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District second is a proposal for three new councils - one in the east, one in the west and one in the north - which is supported by nine districts and government said: "Under both options, local government services will be streamlined with needless duplication brought to an end – cutting the two-tier premium." Jim McMahon OBE, minister of state for local government and English devolution, said: "We want local government to be as efficient and effective as possible. "That's why we're building sustainable unitary councils, able to deliver on local priorities and improve outcomes for local people, as part of the Plan for Change."Surrey is leading the way towards stronger local government that provides the high-quality public services people deserve."A third proposal for Reigate and Banstead to merge with Crawley will not be consulted on as ministers say it does "not meet the statutory requirements". Neighbouring councils, local public service providers, chambers of commerce, voluntary groups and local residents have until 5 August to submit their programme of local government reorganisation affects 21 areas in Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said Surrey was the first area to have their proposals put to a government consultation.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Developer exploring options for Hersham Green Shopping Centre
A shopping centre in Surrey faces an uncertain future after it was revealed that the developer is "still exploring options" for the living near to the Hersham Green Shopping Centre have claimed "it is unacceptable" that there are no new plans for the reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, nearly eight months have passed since the original planning application was unanimously rejected by Elmbridge Borough Council in October 2024. That refusal, which included 109 homes on the Waitrose' car park site, was not appealed by the developers Quadrant Repurpose who say they "remain committed" to the project. Quadrant said it has offered all centre tenants new leases, but according to a letter published in April, some tenants are opting not to stay due to the uncertainty over its future.A spokesperson for the developer said: "We have been exploring the options open to us since our application was refused. This is a complicated process and is taking time."According to a residents' newsletter from June 9, multiple parties - including three elected councillors, the council's planning department and local residents' groups - have tried unsuccessfully over several months to engage with the developers.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey residents' view on unitary authorities has been published
A quarter of 558 residents who responded to an online panel said they backed creating two new councils in Surrey, while a third preferred having either three - or a single research was carried out by Surrey County Council (SCC) which has submitted plans to the government, along with Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, for two new unitary opposition Residents' Association and Independents Group said the findings, published in an answer to a question from a councillor on 4 June, should have been shared with the public a letter to the local government minister, SCC's Conservative leader Tim Oliver said the data "lacked consensus". The government announced in December that the two-tier council system would be abolished, with areas also having elected borough and district councils in Surrey are backing a proposal for three unitary councils, while Crawley and Reigate & Banstead have also developed a plan which would see those two areas being per cent of the residents who took part in the SCC panel in February said they agreed that councils should have more powers and funding from central were also asked what outcomes they wanted from the changes, with the three top answers being: better value for money from councils when delivering services, clearer accountability and more financially resilient authorities. 'Open and transparent' Catherine Powell, leader of the Residents' Association and Independent Group at SCC, said the information from the panel showed higher support for three authorities."I'd like to see the full survey," she told BBC Radio Surrey."I'd like to see what questions were asked, what the answers to the questions were [and] exactly what percentage of people supported which…because that is open and transparent."In his letter, Oliver, who has previously criticised a consultation by the boroughs and districts, said the panel was "broadly representative of Surrey's population"."The overall data lacked consensus with 40% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with both two and three unitaries," he said."Therefore, our final plan includes the more in-depth and directive responses on preferred outcomes to local government reorganisation."He added that those responses had provided "a clearer understanding of what residents want… and this is what we have focused on addressing".In a statement to Parliament on 3 June, Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, said: "I am pleased to inform the House that we received proposals for unitary local government from councils in Surrey, and I will provide the House with a full update shortly."
