Overall, we object to this development. Our main objections are the following. Further recommendations are highlighted in the main body of our letter.

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1. Green space and air pollution - the shared green space is far too small for the number of residents without gardens and the ground floor gardens are adjacent to a noisy road where air pollution is high. What protects residents from air pollution?

2. Cycle storage - there is insufficient secure storage for cargo bikes and trailers. These are becoming more common with the rise in popularity of electric bikes enabling people to carry heavier loads further. Lockers for cycling equipment such as helmets should also be provided.

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1.0 Green space and urban design

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1.1 Building footprint and Green space
The shared green space is far too small for the number of residents without gardens.

The ground floor gardens are adjacent to where traffic regularly queues on The Street, or passes on the A246, so are prone to air pollution and noise.

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1.2 Biodiversity and Wildlife

One of the main opportunities to increase biodiversity would be a hedge but this has been missed by proposing the willow screen instead.

The addition of bat, swift and bee boxes or bricks is good, but Swifts are said to prefer northwest or northeast facing places, so the south facing one might not attract any residents.

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2.0 Sustainable Living 2.1 Transport and travel

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2.1.1 Cycling

There is insufficient secure storage space for cargo bikes and trailers. These are becoming more common with the rise in popularity of electric bikes enabling people to carry heavier loads further. Lockers for cycling equipment such as helmets should also be provided.

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2.1.2 Cars

We note there are four charging points for 18 vehicles. Will there be a further 20% of spaces with a power supply for future conversion as required by Surrey’s Vehicle and Cycle Parking Guidance (2018).

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2.2 Energy

It is excellent that there are no gas boilers proposed and that heating would be electric. Solar panels and air source heat pumps are both proposed but both are to be located on the flat roof areas. Is there actually room for both in such a small space?

There is no area for hanging out washing.

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3.0 Water
The principal aquifer will need protection from pollutants during construction.

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4.0 Light pollution

West Horsley has a popular Dark Skies Policy to help protect nocturnal species. All the ‘well lit pedestrian routes’, entrances and storage areas must have motion sensors and minimum low level lighting.

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5.0 Noise pollution

The fact that an acoustic barrier is needed to protect residents from noise suggests that this is not a good place to live, so close to the busy road.

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A real hedge would be much more beneficial for wildlife than a leafless hedge.

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6.0 Air pollution

What protects residents from air pollution considering their gardens are right next to the busy road?

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7.0 Refuse

The bins in the bin store show the landfill bins to be much bigger than the recycling bins. This is the wrong way round to encourage recycling.

When the bins are moved to the bin collection container beside The Street, there is no space allocated for recycling bins. It is also a hazardous place for the bin lorries to stop. Traffic comes round the blind corner from the roundabout at speed and prevents traffic behind the lorry from being able to overtake.

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