logo
Developer eyes Surrey garden centre site for 150 homes

Developer eyes Surrey garden centre site for 150 homes

BBC News28-05-2025

Plans for about 150 homes on a Surrey garden centre site have been put forward to a local authority. Developer Taylor Wimpey has submitted an outline of the potential scheme at Hill Park Roses Garden Centre in Long Ditton to Elmbridge Borough Council.Hill Park Roses Garden Centre, which has been family-run since 1968, is still operating on the site. A spokesperson from the rose nursery said it was "not obliged to say" whether it has been sold or not.
Details on the proposal are scarce, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). But they added planning documents indicated that the new homes would be a mix of apartments and houses, from one to five beds, and could be up to three storeys tall.Planning documents show that the village green, local nature reserve Stokes Field, and One Tree Hill will be kept as green space. However, the developer will add environmental enhancements.
Council told to plan for more affordable homes
Up to 50 per cent of the proposed new builds could be affordable, the documents also state.Elmbridge borough, which includes the towns of Esher, Cobham and Walton, has been called one of the "least affordable in the country" by a planning inspector.The proposed development site covers approximately 11 hectares of land and comprises fields of grassland, scrubs, hedgerows, mature trees and woodland along with the garden centre, documents state.Ambitions for the project date back to 2016, according to LDRS.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Starmer's Chagos deal reported to UN human rights chiefs
Starmer's Chagos deal reported to UN human rights chiefs

Telegraph

time24 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Starmer's Chagos deal reported to UN human rights chiefs

Sir Keir Starmer's Chagos deal has been reported to UN human rights chiefs over claims it ignores native islanders' desire to return to their homeland. Campaigners have asked the UN's human rights committee in Geneva to examine the deal, under which the UK will give up the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and rent back a military base there. If successful, the request could result in a UN ruling in direct contradiction to the body's International Court of Justice, which said in 2019 that the UK should hand over the islands to Mauritius. Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who are British citizens but native to the islands, launched an eleventh-hour bid to stop the deal last month, resulting in a dramatic injunction from the High Court in the middle of the night. But their legal challenge was rejected the next day, and the deal went ahead, including a commitment for the UK to pay Mauritius up to £30 billion over the next 99 years. Ms Dugasse and Ms Pompe are now taking their fight to the UN by writing to the committee asking for an advisory opinion that the UK should not sign the deal over human rights concerns. They allege the deal breaches five articles of the UN's international covenant on civil and political rights, including the right to self-determination, freedom of movement and right to return, and minority rights. The deal agreed by Sir Keir has been opposed by MPs from the Conservative and Reform parties, and Tory peers have since launched a campaign to block the deal from the House of Lords. But the Government insists that the deal is vital for national security and will allow the military base on the archipelago's biggest island, Diego Garcia, to continue to operate legally. It follows years of negotiations between Britain and Mauritius, which claims it should have been given sovereignty over the islands when it was given independence from the UK in 1968. The population of the islands, between 1,400 and 1,700 people, was removed in the late 60s and early 70s to make way for the military base. The displaced Chagossians claim that they were not consulted before the Starmer deal was signed, and complain that under the terms agreed between the UK and Mauritius, they will not be allowed to return to Diego Garcia. Ms Pompe said: 'The fight is not over. There is nothing in that treaty for Chagossians and we will fight.' The UN does not have the power to block the deal, but the committee could issue an advisory opinion that would inform Downing Street it could be in breach of international human rights obligations if it proceeds. The campaigners told the committee in a letter, seen by The Telegraph, that the deal 'would amount to a definitive and irreversible endorsement of a continuing violation originally initiated by the colonial power'. It goes on: 'By excluding the Chagossian people from the process and de facto accepting their permanent displacement, the agreement entrenches the denial of their right to return and the effective exercise of their cultural, spiritual rights.' Toby Noskwith, who coordinated last month's legal action, said: 'I pity the poor souls in the No10 press office who are being ordered to justify Keir Starmer's betrayal of the Chagossian people. 'We're looking forward to the explanation of why the UN human rights committee doesn't matter. Not pausing the Chagos deal until the Committee rules is indefensible.'

BREAKING NEWS Woman is charged with murder after Polish mother's body was found buried in garden 15 years after she vanished
BREAKING NEWS Woman is charged with murder after Polish mother's body was found buried in garden 15 years after she vanished

Daily Mail​

time25 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

BREAKING NEWS Woman is charged with murder after Polish mother's body was found buried in garden 15 years after she vanished

A woman has been charged after the body of Polish mother, Izabela Zablocka, was uncovered by police 15 years after she vanished. Anna Podedworna, 39, has been charged with murder, preventing a lawful and decent burial and perverting the course of justice. It comes after the body of Izabela Zablocka, 30, was found in a garden in Derby on June 1 of this year, having been missing for over a decade. Izabela, who moved to Britain in 2009, lived on Princes Street and worked at the former Cranberry Foods Turkey and Chicken Factory in nearby Scropton. She last made contact with her family in Poland on August 28, 2010 and despite their efforts to trace her, she was never found. Samanatha Shallow, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor in the East Midlands, said: 'Following a review of the evidence provided by Derbyshire Constabulary, we have authorised criminal charges in relation to the death of Izabela Zablocka 'Ms Zablocka went missing in August 2010, when she was aged 30. Her body was recovered in Derby on 1 June 2025. 'Anna Podedworna, 39, from Derby, has been charged with her murder. She has also been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial and perverting the course of justice. 'She will appear at Derby Magistrates' Court on Friday, 6 June 2025. 'Our thoughts remain with the family of Ms Zablocka at this time. 'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that she has the right to a fair trial. 'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

Greater Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns in the BBC hot seat
Greater Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns in the BBC hot seat

BBC News

time28 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Greater Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns in the BBC hot seat

The Greater Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns has been in the hot seat on BBC Radio Reform UK representative was elected last month after recieving 42% of the Andrea was taking questions from presenter Carla Greene, as well as those from are the four big takeaways from what she had to say – and you can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds. 1. Trade college to be built Matthew Burke from Grimsby wants to see more job opportunities in North East Lincolnshire. The 33-year-old said: "Look at what other cities are doing and just try and bring that to Grimsby."Bringing investment to the local area is a key role of the Greater Lincolnshire Andrea announced she wanted to build a trade college in the area. She said: "We know right across the country we've got a shortage of plasterers, plumbers, builders. "Lecturers make more money in the private sector than actually teaching so we need to look at that skills gap." 2. Fair funding across the region Dame Andrea was asked specifically what she would be doing to help people in Northern responded: "I don't have this silo approach".The mayor was keen to stress that she would not be favouring one part of the region over another and said her role would help to bring a better said: "The good thing about a mayor is that you've got an overview of the whole county so you can ensure fair funding across the area."You can't have one part missing out." 3. Improvements to the care sector Corrina Pett is a mental health support worker in North Lincolnshire. She said she wanted to see more unemployed people trained to help fill the gaps in the care said: "There shouldn't be a shortage with the amount of unemployed people here."Dame Andrea said she wanted to change attitudes towards the sector."These are valuable roles and they're not to be looked down on."It's about working with the councils, colleges and care providers to ensure school leavers see this career as a viable option." 4. Transport plans Bill, a BBC Radio Humberside listener, asked why the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire area missed out on billions of pounds worth of investment for transport Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday funding for tram, train and bus schemes in mayoral authorities across the Midlands, the North and the West Andrea Jenkyns said she wanted to come up with a fully costed transport plan for Greater Lincolnshire and promised to fight the business case for more transport investment for the said: "The Government has given money where they've got Labour mayors and this is why we need to clean up politics."The mayor made transport one of the key pillars of her election campaign by pledging to create investment in major roads such as the A15, A52 and A17, along with "proper integration between buses, trains and cars".HM Treasury for a comment. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store