Sondes Place Farm

In line with approved outline planning consent, we want to deliver a mix of 144 new high-quality homes (50% being affordable homes), which are suitable for a variety of homebuyers.  

We are also proposing to deliver the following: 

• Open spaces across the site, including ecological enhancements
• An equipped play area to benefit local children
• Vehicle and pedestrian access points from Westcott Road, including a new priority junction onto the A25
• A new drop off area to serve The Priory CofE School
• Designated pitches for the traveller community in the south-western corner of the site
• A series of sustainable urban drainage systems, including swales and detention basins
• Improved landscaping
• Pedestrian and cycle routes through to West Bank

We want to deliver a new development that will appeal to a range of homebuyers, whether they be first time buyers, growing families or downsizers.

To create a characterful community, our proposals seek to deliver a mix of house type designs, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom homes. We envisage that the development will consist of mainly 2 & 2.5 storey buildings, with some 3 storey apartments (up to 11m).

As a responsible housebuilder, committed to building a sustainable future for our customers, all of the new homes will be energy efficient and compliment the design of homes in the surrounding areas. 

We will take cues from the traditional forms and themes that can be found around Dorking, whilst utilising modern materials and detailing to create an attractive and sustainable development.

The development will feature via a new vehicle / pedestrian access and egress points from the A25 (Westcott Road), including a new priority junction. This was approved at the outline planning application stage. 

Additionally, a series of pedestrian and cycle routes will be installed that will connect the wider development and provide a useful link to The Priority School.

A flood risk assessment was undertaken at the outline planning stage, which determined that the site does not lie within an area which is at risk from flooding from rivers. However, we have carefully considered our approach to drainage to ensure that the discharge of surface water from the site will not exceed existing run off rates.

We plan to utilise a series of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), consisting of permeable paving, swales and detention basins, as well as water efficient fixtures and fittings to encourage natural drainage and enhance biodiversity. Surface water will be discharged into the ground via infiltration SuDs following the Sustainable Drainage hierarchy that looks to mimic the natural water routes in nature.

Preserving and enhancing local wildlife and biodiversity is a key consideration when we plan and build new developments. 

To support this reserved matters application, we have completed  Ecological Assessments. Consequently, we are aware that a variety of species make use of the site, including roman snails, bats and skylarks.

In addition to the protection of wildlife, we are proposing a series of ecological enhancements. 

There are no statutory listed buildings or structures within the site or its immediate surroundings. The proposed development has been sensitively designed to account for the non-designated Sondes Place Farm complex.

As part of the outline application, further archaeological assessments are required to be conducted, including a programme of geophysical surveys and trial trench evaluation. 

The application site is currently used for agricultural purposes.

An outline planning application was submitted to Mole Valley District Council in 2023 for up to 144 dwellings, the principal access from Westcott Road, school parking and drop-off/pick-up, gypsy and traveller pitches, public open space, landscaping, surface water attenuation and associated infrastructure. 

Following an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, outline planning permission for this site was granted in November 2023 and Taylor Wimpey then acquired the site in June 2024. 

The outline planning application was guided by an online public consultation and feedback from Mole Valley District Council, including the requirements of Policy DS24 of the Mole Valley Local Plan 2020-2037. 

An in-person exhibition was held on 22nd July 2024 and a further online consultation is now underway prior to the submission of a reserved matters planning application to Mole Valley District Council in the autumn.

72 of the proposed dwellings would be affordable for local residents. 

In line with Section 106 commitments for the site, we will contribute £172,800 towards off-site highways works, including crossings and signal improvements. We will also deliver the pedestrian and cycle routes, upgrades to two bus stops, provision of a toucan crossing, and make changes to the speed limit adjacent to the site.  

Considerable financial contributions to other local services will be made through the Community Infrastructure Levy, a charge on development, which is calculated on the floor area of market housing and is payable once development commences.

Ensuring our residents and the local community have access to beautiful green open spaces is a key consideration. 

Once complete, the development will include 2.9 hectares of publicly accessible open spaces, as well as a Locally Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) in the centre of the site, which will include equipment that is suitable for children up to 12 years old. 

Landscape buffers will enhance ecological and recreational benefits and, when combined, our ecological enhancements will increase on-site biodiversity by at least 20%. 

We aim to support the communities in which we build. One way in which we do this is by providing new facilities that local people will benefit from.

 

In addition to improved landscaping and infrastructure, we hope to deliver areas of open space, as well as designated pitches for the traveller community and a new area of play, which we hope local families will enjoy for years to come.