Walton on Thames Planning Applications

12 to 16 High Street

Formally the Burton Menswear site on 12-16 High Street, Walton on Thames

Application Number 2019/0083

The application was received by Elmbridge Borough Council on the 10th of January 2019 and is open for comments until the 23rd February 2019 with a target date for decision of the 22nd of April 2019.

It is described as:

“A mixed-use development comprising Retail (A1) (388 sqm) at ground floor level, and 32 flats incorporating car and cycle parking, bin storage and associated works following demolition of existing buildings except front facade.”

The more alert among you may have paused when reading “…32 flats…”

The proposed application increases the number of residential units from 2 flats to 32 flats and the height of the building increases from Ground, First and Second floors to Ground and then First through to Sixth floors – the ground floor consisting of retail space and, as mentioned, the existing street facade will be retained.

It should be noted that according to the application all 32 residential units will be for ‘Social Housing’.

Parking spaces for cars will increase from 4 to 9 spaces plus 34 cycle spaces will be added.

You can see below the existing front elevation and proposed front elevation.

We removed the background from the original  plans as submitted to more clearly demonstrate the before vs after street view – the original plans with background buildings can be found here

________________________________________

Have you joined the Walton-on-Thames Community group on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OurWaltonOnThamesCommunity/

________________________________________

The current view of the High Street:

And the view with the proposed development:

Some alternative aspects of the building:

Side View from the South end of the High Street – the existing buildings are shaded white with the proposed block filled with various shades of colour.

Side View from the North end of the High Street – the existing buildings are shaded white, with the High Street itself on the left hand side- you see the profile of the proposed block filled with various shades of colour.

The current view from the rear of the proposed development site – the High Street would be on the other side of the white buildings in this drawing:

And the view from the rear with the proposed building included – again existing buildings are shown in white:

 

There is no getting away form the fact that this is a BIG building – much bigger than anything currently in place on the High Street.

I think its particularly telling that the company responsible for drawing up the plans for the Council and therefore accessible by the public employed a number of ‘techniques’ to try and minimise the visual impact of the size of the building.

This is the original plan with the background in place:

1.  Lots of background structure so that the height of the new building isn’t immediately apparent.

2. Levels 4 and 5 are much lighter shade then the lower building. Levels 6 and 7 almost completely blend in with the background buildings.

3. The addition of cars, buses, pedestrians and cyclists designed to draw the eye down rather than up.

So its a big building but this should be weighed up against:

• It’s predominantly a retail centre.
• The upper levels 4 and 5 are staggared further back from the facade of the Ground floor and levels 2 and 3. With levels 6 and 7 further back still so this wouldn’t be an imposing 7 story block overlooking the High Street.
• Regeneration of the High Street has to be a positive, the empty unit which used to house Burtons really sticks out like a sore thumb.
• All 32 residential units are allocated for social housing.

What do you think?

Have you say on the application on the Elmbridge Borough Council website here.

________________________________________

Have you joined the Walton-on-Thames Community group on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OurWaltonOnThamesCommunity/

Recent Articles:

________________________________________
The Walton Bike Project
________________________________________
Walton on Thames
________________________________________

________________________________________