Good news for Brooklands - we have today received a letter from the Government Office for the South East notifying us that the planning application for the Mercedes-Benz Heritage and Technology Centre has not been called in by John Prescott for a full enquiry. The matter has now been referred back to Elmbridge Borough Council to be handled locally. As Elmbridge are very positively disposed to the application this means that matters can now move ahead at a much faster pace. This is very good news for Brooklands because at the rate the track is crumbling away, every day is important and the faster this development can proceed in tandem with the restoration work needed, the better.

The essentials of the decision, not the entire document, are as follows:

TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT PLANS & CONSULTATION) (DEPARTURES) DIRECTIONS 1999. APPLICATION FOR ERECTION OF HERITAGE & TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (MERCEDES-BENZ) WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING AND DRIVING CIRCUIT, HOTEL WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, BUSINESS (CLASS B1) BUILDING WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, FORMATION OF NEW ACCESS ROAD, PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL PARK WITH RIVERSIDE WALKS, FOLLOWING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND REMOVAL OF PART OF EXISTING RUNWAY. CENTRAL AREA AND PART OF BROOKLANDS INDUSTRIAL PARK, SOPWITH DRIVE, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY. APPLICATION NO. 2002/2982.

. . . . . . . 

5. Additionally the Secretary of State has considered this application in the light of the following policies:

(a)  the identification and protection of the historic environment including the likely impact on the nearby Scheduled Ancient Monuments (PPG15: Planning and Historic Environment & PPG 16: Archaeology and Planning); and

(b)  the reduction of the risks of flooding in the planning of developments (PPG25: Development & Flood Risk).

6. Having considered carefully these and other relevant planning issues raised by this proposal, the Secretary of State is of the view that the applicant appears to have taken his policies in PPG2 into account and to have accepted that the proposed development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The applicant has therefore put forward very special circumstances, which in his view outweigh the harm caused by the development. The Secretary of State considers, however, that the requirement to demonstrate need and to adopt a sequential approach to site selection in PPG6 and its subsequent clarificatory statements has not been adequately satisfied. In relation to his policies in PPG13, the Secretary of State considers that there is a risk that this could become a car-dependent development, but he acknowledges that the measures which would be implemented through the applicant's travel plan would help to reduce the reliance on the private car and provide a greater choice of access by public transport, walking and cycling.

7. The Secretary of State therefore considers that there would be some conflicts with the objectives of national planning guidance but that, overall, the benefits which would be associated with the development, particularly in terms of the restoration and long-term preservation of this important historic site, justify an exception being made. He has therefore concluded that the application should be decided by Elmbridge Borough Council.

. . . . . . .

John Cheston
Senior Planning Officer

Comment - decisions of this nature depend heavily on the consideration of the planning policies published in the various policy documents such as PPG2: Green Belts, PPG 6: Town Centres and Retail Developments etc. In this case PPG15: Planning and Historic Environment & PPG 16: Archaeology and Planning have been brought into play.

These references bring the importance of the Brooklands Society and the work done by our members in identifying, listing and preserving a very long list of the important surviving parts of Brooklands over the last 30 years sharply into focus. There are many people who believe that to simply object can make a difference. Over the years we have come to understand that very often those objections have counted for very little. The methodical approach of the Brooklands Society to planning and preservation matters and the formal co-ordination with all of the interested parties is now paying off. You can support us by joining the Brooklands Society where you can have a real voice in these issues as well as participation in our more social events. To join please click here.

If you would like to submit any comments on the DaimlerChrysler development please use this form:

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