The Knaphillian

Cliftons have submitted an planning application for:

"Erection of a three storey building containing A1 (retail) use at ground floor and 7 x 1 bedroom and 5 x 2 bedroom flats at first and second floors following the demolition of the existing shop and workshops at 15 High Street and 6 Foster Lane."

It sounds like the plans they displayed a year or two ago, which frankly were completely out of scale with the rest of the village centre.  It is also sad that one of the few remaining buildings of character in the village centre faces demolition.  I note that similar buildings in other parts of the borough are "locally listed" as important to the history of the village.  I wonder why Cliftons is not.

Sounds like a great idea - bringing some life back into the centre of the village, rather than a load of buildings that stand empty for up to 16 hours a day.  Its also better than building more properties on other greenfield or infill sites around the place.  And with a range of local shops, facilities and easy access to public transport connecting to the rest of the borough and beyond, it could work out well for those who move in there.  With so many being single bedroom its unlikely to create much pressure on local schools as unlikely that families would live there.  Perhaps it could create a trend - lets hope so.

It's nice to see, though, that Pentangle have moved into the village.  It will balance things out a bit more making it feel more like the sort of place people live their lives in - not just takeaways, estate agents and second-hand shops. Lets hope another oneof themdoesn' end up in the ground floor of the new development

I am not against the development per se, just the scale of it.  3 storeys will tower over the village centre. 

And I think you might find that what you can expect in the ground floor will be either Tesco Express or similar.  Which will probably be the end of the Co-op.

Agreed Pentangle coming into the village is a very good thing.  Almost makes me want a tropical tank again!

Any other sort of mini supermarket would be a bad thing for many businesses, not just he Co-Op; the grocery end of the post office, the bakery, the newsagent, even Harry and Kay's.  They all sell things that a supermarket would sell and in one spot. 

Dare I bring up the subject of the old library again ? Yes.

Is there an update?

Jon_H at 03:37AM on Feb 19, 2010

I am not against the development per se, just the scale of it.  3 storeys will tower over the village centre. 

 

And I think you might find that what you can expect in the ground floor will be either Tesco Express or similar.  Which will probably be the end of the Co-op.

 

Agreed Pentangle coming into the village is a very good thing.  Almost makes me want a tropical tank again!

Don't be daft - the council would not consider allowing another grocery retail outlet like the likes of Tesco Express to operate in the village centre.  Although planning constraints are not designed to stifle competition, its unlikely the council would support such a scheme that would impact on the existing facilities, and would also need to take into account the Brookwood........whoops, I mean Knaphill Sainsbury's less than one mile away.

I haven't checked the planning portal to see if the plans have been uploaded yet, so will refrain from making any judgement on whether the proposed development would "tower over the village centre".  However, there is already at least two  three story building on the High Street which don't overly oppress the existing street scene.

MahargH at 06:01PM on Feb 19, 2010

Jon_H at 03:37AM on Feb 19, 2010

I am not against the development per se, just the scale of it.  3 storeys will tower over the village centre. 

 

And I think you might find that what you can expect in the ground floor will be either Tesco Express or similar.  Which will probably be the end of the Co-op.

 

Agreed Pentangle coming into the village is a very good thing.  Almost makes me want a tropical tank again!

Don't be daft - the council would not consider allowing another grocery retail outlet like the likes of Tesco Express to operate in the village centre.  Although planning constraints are not designed to stifle competition, its unlikely the council would support such a scheme that would impact on the existing facilities, and would also need to take into account the Brookwood........whoops, I mean Knaphill Sainsbury's less than one mile away.

I haven't checked the planning portal to see if the plans have been uploaded yet, so will refrain from making any judgement on whether the proposed development would "tower over the village centre".  However, there is already at least two  three story building on the High Street which don't overly oppress the existing street scene.

You take a look at the plans, and tell me exactly what other type of store is going to take up a lease on a retail unit of 450M sq in Knaphill, with a rear entrance onto the car park and 5 retail parking spaces?  With delivery rights for a 12M articulated lorry at the back?  And once this is built, can the council actually stop any particular retailer leasing the shop?  I doubt it.

Other 3 storey building have the 3rd story set into the roof - either flats or the offices in Highclere house.  These plans have ground floor retail and 2 full storeys of apartments plus roof.  I also feel for the residents of 5 Fosters Lane who will go from living nest to a bungalow to having a 3 storey apartment block next door.