Upper High Street Development Site on the Agenda Again

Tesco, the owners, have applied to renew a planning permission which is due to expire shortly. It will be debated at the 16th April meeting of the Planning Committee.

The planning permission which Tesco wish to renew is NOT the hypermarket plan. It is a permission given some five years ago for a four-storey block of 73 residential units, with retail units below and space for a car dealership, and involves using a small portion of the public car park. The borough council has never agreed to sell any part of the car park, so this scheme could not actually be built as it stands.

It's not known why Tesco want to renew this permission. Rumours abound that they wish to sell the site on, but they are only rumours. There is now a Development Brief relating to this site, but this is only advisory, so cannot be used as a reason not to renew this existing permission. However, planning policy and guidance has changed since permission was granted five years ago.

Cllrs Kelly and Taylor would welcome knowing your views, but as you will be aware, as members of the Planning Committee, they are not permitted to express any view to the public before the actual meeting. Residents who have sent in written comments may apply to address the Planning Committee for 3 minutes. Letters of objection or support should be sent to the planning department at the borough council, Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom, for them to be taken into account. Sending a copy to local councillors can be a useful way of letting them know your views.