Click here to see map for location of 24-28 West Street Epsom.

19/01021/FUL Demolition of existing building and construction of a new part 9, part 11 and part 13 storey building containing ground floor commercial/retail (A1, A2 and B1 uses) and 29 residential units (C3 Use) on upper levels and associated development.

The site is currently occupied by a distinctive, much-loved building within the Town Centre Conservation Area and abuts the adjacent Stamford Green Conservation Area, which the application proposes to demolish in order to replace it with a commercial and residential building of some 13 storeys at its highest. The proposal is featured on the front page of the Society’s Autumn 2019 Newsletter (No. 161), which includes pictures of the current and proposed buildings.

The Society has objected strongly to this proposal, and sent a three page letter identifying numerous the reasons why we believe it is thoroughly inappropriate for this location. Both its height and blatant disregard of the value of Conservation Areas, not to mention the Council’s encouragement of adding an extra 8 storeys to the developer’s original proposal, lead us to suggest to all members that they visit the Borough’s (planning website before 25th September to add their own weight to the argument for rejecting the proposal, since its acceptance could establish a dreadful precedent for future applications.

Accordingly, the Society recommends refusal of the application.

See our letter here.