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20/00249/FUL Erection of a multi storey car park comprising ground plus 5 storeys and 527 car parking spaces, reconfiguration of surface parking to provide 104 car parking spaces and improvement to the access road from Dorking Road.

This application is for a new 6-storey Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) to be erected on the existing ground-level car park at the side of the current hospital site next to Epsom Sports Club.

The Society has objected strongly to the proposal, on the grounds of its excessive height, massing and scale and the impact it would have on the adjacent sports facilities and surrounding area, which includes the Woodcote Conservation area. It is also near to the Chalk Lane Conservation Area with possible adverse impacts for the southern part of Worple Road Conservation area bordering Avenue Road. The proposed MSCP will adversely affect the setting of three listed buildings on the north side of Dorking Road (East Lodge, the Bell House and Clock House Medical Centre).

The design is a utilitarian structure with a large bulk and mass and a bland, boxy design devoid of any quality architectural features, which is totally out of keeping with the surrounding residential area. The overall detrimental effect and harm to nearby heritage assets is, in the Society’s view, substantial.

The Society questioned the consistency of the proposal with the Borough’s recently-adopted Climate Action Plan and made a number of other suggestions to improve the proposal, but recommended refusal in its current form.

See our letter, (which was submitted as an on-line comment via the EEBC planning website), here.