Date:
The Planning Inspectorate has allowed the appeal by Abri Group Ltd and granted planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of a building of up to 25 storeys comprising 224 residential units, ground floor commercial units, landscaping, bin and cycle storage, public realm works and associated works and facilities at Technology House, 48 - 54 Goldsworth Road, Woking.
Responding to the decision, Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “It is disappointing that the Planning Inspectorate has again allowed a private developer to erect a high rise building in our town centre. A four to six storey development would have been preferable for this location. However, I do welcome the new homes that the development will provide, particularly as there will be a high proportion of affordable homes."
The view of the Planning Inspectorate is that the prevailing character and appearance of Woking Town Centre would be respected and enhanced by adding to the cluster of tall buildings emerging on the western side of the town as a collective landmark feature relative to other existing tall buildings.
And that, even without the emerging tall building cluster, the appeal building taken in isolation, would still have a positive effect as a landmark built feature on that side of the town.
The application (Ref PLAN/2022/0685), dated 14 July 2022, was refused by Woking Borough Council's Planning Committee on 6 March 2023.