Woodcote Grove Ashley Road Epsom KT18 5BW

Click here to see map for location of Woodcote Grove Epsom.

19/00999/FUL Demolition of existing office buildings and redevelopment of Application Site to provide 115 apartments/dwellings, including conversion of the Grade II* Listed Woodcote Grove and Grade II Listed Stable Block, with parking, access, landscaping and other associated works.

A related application seeks permission to modify listed buildings.

Woodcote Grove is part of land previously used as the Head Office for Atkins, and is part of the Chalk Lane Conservation Area, recognised as one of the most important Conservation Areas in Epsom due in part to the Mansion itself, a building of historical and architectural importance. Both the Mansion and associated Stable Block are Grade II* listed buildings.

A developer has now applied for the demolition of the existing Atkins offices and the erection of 115 apartments including the conversion of the listed Woodcote Grove and Stable Block buildings.

The Society’s main objection is in regard to the present planning permission 14/01150/FUL for the ongoing Atkins new headquarters project. This planning decision required that the existing office blocks shall be demolished and the resultant material removed from site within 6 months of first occupation of the new building and the grass bank and soft landscaping shall be reinstated in accordance with the Landscape Masterplan Drawing. This condition was imposed to ensure that there would be minimal impact on the adjacent listed buildings. The new application seeks to replace this landscaped open space with a substantial 6 storey block of flats.

Our other objections relate to the inappropriateness of the development in and the harm caused to the Conservation Area in which the site is located, poor design, lack of parking for the completed development and numerous other issues set out in our four-page letter of objection.

Accordingly, the Society recommends refusal of the application.

See our letter here.