'Ugly' housing blocks approved on grey belt land

Housing that has been described as looking like a prison cell block has been approved on former Surrey green belt land.

Runnymede Borough Council's June planning committee voted through plans to build 96 homes in Clockhouse Lane East in Egham, which is no longer a protected green belt due to recent changes to planning laws.

Alongside questions around the building site, there were objections to the design of some homes, which councillor Elaine Gill called "ugly", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"The plans call them block one and block two and that's exactly what they are honestly. They look like Cell Block H to me," she said.

The plans were approved despite protestations against the design of some homes, which some residents say will be used as sound barriers for the adjoining M25 motorway.

The meeting also heard that rules designed to keep towns such as Chertsey and Egham separate, do not apply to Thorpe or Virginia Water.

The application is the first in Runnymede to be classified as grey belt – which is green belt that had been previously developed, or does not strongly contribute to green belt purposes.

Gill said she understood why the homes were to be acoustic barriers- but said the proposal made her "a little bit concerned".

"I want [residents] to move into Thorpe for a better way of life, not to help protect the rest of us from noise from the motorway," she said.

Planning officers admitted noise in some gardens will be above recommended levels, but double glazing will prevent these leaking into the homes.

The developers will contribute £300,000 in community contributions and half the overall project's housing will be made affordable.

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