1 Robin Hood Road St Johns Woking Surrey GU21 8SP

1. 1.The proposed development would result in the loss of a commercial use in the Local Centre of St Johns. In the absence of justification or evidence to demonstrate that there is a lack of need for commercial space such as this at the application site, the principle of the proposed development is contrary to policy CS4 of the Core Strategy. The development would therefore result in the unjustified loss of a small-scale economic use which policy CS4 seeks to protect because of the importance of these uses meeting the everyday needs of those living locally. Therefore, the development is contrary to Policy CS4 of the Woking Core Strategy (2012).
2. 2.Due to the insufficient private amenity space and substandard communal amenity space, the development would fail to provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for future occupiers. As such, the proposal fails to secure a high standard of amenity for future users and is therefore contrary to CS10 of the Woking Core Strategy (2012) and paragraph 135(f) of the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).
3. 3.It has not been demonstrated that the proposed development would not result in a net loss of biodiversity on the proposal site. Furthermore, it has not been demonstrated that the proposed development would achieve a Biodiversity Net Gain, contrary to Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The proposed development is therefore contrary to Woking Core Strategy (2012) policy CS7 'Biodiversity and Nature Conservation' and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).
4. 4.In the absence of a Legal Agreement or other appropriate mechanism to secure contributions towards mitigation measures, it cannot be determined that the additional dwellings arising from the proposed development would not have a significant impact on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area, contrary to Policy CS8 of the Woking Core Strategy 2012, the Thames Basin Heaths Avoidance Strategy 2022, saved policy NRM6 of the South East Plan 2009 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (SI No. 1012 - the "Habitats Regulations").

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

GU21 8SP

Date validated

11 May 2026