Controversial plans to demolish a disused nursing home and build a block of flats in Kingswood were thrown out by the council last week.

A majority of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted to reject plans for two three-storey buildings with 14 two-bedroom apartments in Furze Hill, Kingswood opposite Legal and General’s offices.

Surrey Comet:

Planners proposed to flatten the abandoned Winscombe Nursing home (pictured above) – which had been closed in 2014, leaving 18 elderly people without accommodation – to make way for the flats and 28 parking spaces.

From February 2014: Elderly face upheaval as nursing home closes in Kingswood

More than a dozen Kingswood residents had objected to the application on the council’s online planning portal prior to the decision.

The application was rejected by 13 councillors at a meeting of the Planning Committee on Thursday, August 31. Four councillors voted in favour of the application.

Councillors rejected the application on the grounds that its “bland appearance” failed to reflect Kingswood’s character, that the buildings’ height meant it would have an “overbearing” impact on the site’s neighbours, and that it failed to adequately contribute affordable housing.

Kingswood with Burgh Heath councillor Simon Parnell criticised the application, and its plans for replacing a “diminutive” disused nursing home with “huge” three-storey buildings.

“There is no doubt that this site needs development,” he said, “but these buildings, which would resemble each other, are out of character with Kingswood, which has different housing. From the back, they look like an office block to me.

“This development proposes to introduce three-storey buildings which reach right to the edge of the plot with extensive and expansive balconies, which would severely harm the amenity of neighbours.

“The very dominant car parking at the front would have a profound impact on the character of the area.

“This is a development I simply cannot support.”

Surrey Comet:

But South Park and Woodhatch councillor Derek Allcard was one of four who voted in favour of the application, and was the only councillor to speak in support of it at the meeting.

He said: “I think this is a very elegant solution to quite a difficult problem.

“The architect has managed to use the site in a very efficient way. They have avoided too much bulk by splitting the buildings and has provided a very nice amenity site towards the back of the site.”

Reigate Central councillor Michael Blacker agreed with Cllr Parnell and added: “Furze Hill is dominated by large single dwellings with large single plots, and this site is not suitable for 14 flats.

“Flats, maybe, but not 14 of them.”

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