Congratulations to our client Croudace Homes, who recently secured a full planning permission for 42 affordable homes in Caterham, Surrey.
Incredibly close to the town centre and railway station, this has to be one of the most sustainable locations available in the area – an area that suffers from a chronic housing shortfall.
Following many years of close involvement and after the Council’s non-determination of the planning application, CSA Environmental were pleased to provide landscape and ecological expert witness support at the appeal.
In one last appeal appearance (no, honestly!), retiring founder of CSA, Clive Self, gave evidence addressing matters of landscape character and visual impact. This predominantly grassland site is tucked inside the A22 Caterham Bypass to the east and slopes downwards towards the existing settlement edge to the west. It was successfully established that restricting development to the lower slopes effectively limits visibility from public viewpoints and avoids harm to the Surrey Downs National Landscape.
In respect to ecological matters, current Managing Director of CSA, Aidan Marsh, gave evidence in relation to the calcareous grassland interest of the site and other matters, describing the strategy for grassland enhancement and compensation. The scheme will preserve and enhance calcareous grassland on the eastern slopes and deliver considerable areas of new off-site calcareous grassland. Overall, a biodiversity net gain in excess of 20% will be delivered, underlining the commitment of Croudace Homes and CSA Environmental’s ecologists to identify a meaningful solution.
Having owned the site since the 1960s, Croudace Homes are understandably pleased to see the site deliver affordable homes for the local community. And whilst most development involves some compromise, it’s another great example of CSA working tirelessly to find solutions that deliver for People, Places and Nature.