Refusal for 929 flats in Woking

Councillors went against their officers’ recommendation to refuse EcoWorld’s plan for 929 flats in Woking.

Woking Borough Council’s planning committee voted by five to three with one abstention at its January 12 meeting, to refuse the plans for five towers at a site which straddles Goldsworth Road. It would also have a homeless shelter and commercial units.

The towers were at various heights up to 37 storeys which would have been the town’s tallest.

Councillors raised concerns over height and density and argued that the towers would create loss of light and privacy issues as well as pressure on GP surgeries.

Ward member for Canalside Cllr Mohammad Ali, along with others, argued that the amount of affordable housing is too low at just five per cent.

And Cllr Louise Morales said the density was too high, cycle parking was too little and light, noise and privacy were concerns as well as the housing mix.

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