Tangley Place

See below for recent planning history

These applications are within 400m of Whitmoor Common.  Please see

Whitmoor Common for details of how that might affect the progress of these applications.

Tangley Place is the old Edwardian (19thC) mansion house north of Pitch Place, Worplesdon Road, GU3 3LQ.

See below for copies of the Surrey Ad articles about the fires that occurred on 20th January 2001 and 19th May 2008.  Local residents have repeatedly expressed concerns about the lack of security and complained about people breaking into the site.

Comment:

Local residents are fed up of the vandalism and lack of security at this now derelict site and want something to be done about this dangerous building.  Ideally, the old mansion should be rebuilt in its former glory or something similar.  The last thing wanted is a massive office block, however the Council planning policy 'SPA Strategy' means that housing cannot be built within 400m of the common.  The developers are hoping that a 70 bed care home is a good compromise but local residents feel this is just too large and out of character.  Early May 2008, the developers submitted a repeat application and also appealed against the rejection of the previous application. 

Please see the SCA page on Park and Ride.  It is known that the Councils have been in discussion with the developers about the potential use of their land for a park and ride. 

(If anyone has pictures, history or other information about the house, please contact Ian Godfrey)

It used to be a private house, commandeered by the MoD during WWII.  Between 1948-55 it was a convalescence home (?) before it was then taken over by MAFF as a Central Science Laboratory (GU/R 6140 – Use of premises as agricultural station- Approved).

During the 1960s to the 1980s various minor buildings and alterations were approved.  In 1968 no objection was raised to the construction of the detached laboratory block (GU/R 148/2/68). In 1978 the security fencing was approved (78/P/0237).  In August 1997, a Certificate of Lawfulness was granted for the use of the site within Use Class B1 (97/P/0916).  In March 2000 the main building was was placed on the GBC's List of Buildings of Local and Historical Interest.  In February 2001, the main building (when vacant) was fairly extensively damaged by an outbreak of fire. Since that time the building has remained unprotected from the weather and areas of tile hanging appear to have been removed.

According to the MAFF national register the house and 8 specialist buildings were a total of 2,120sqm on 2.30ha (although GBC and Campmoss say it is 2.61ha).  According to Hansard it was first offered for sale in January 1997, and finally sold in January 1999.

The building is currently owned by Campmoss Property Company Ltd. and Cardiff Property plc Ltd whose latest plans are to build apartments after several unsuccessful attempts to demolish and build offices. 

However, they have submitted a second set of plans to build offices.  Local residents want the original house to be repaired or rebuilt.  They do not want large office buildings such as the ones proposed, as these are not in keeping with the character of the area.

Recent Planning History

In 1999 the building and grounds was purchased by Campmoss Property Company Ltd. and Cardiff Property plc Ltd as a joint office development venture.

15th March 1999 - Application 99/P/00391.  For erection of a two storey B1 office building following demolition of existing buildings and extensions to Tangley Place. (As amended by letter dated 17/06/99 and plans received 06/07/99).

Planning committee deferred decision until July 1999 to enable a Section 106 Obligation to be completed.  The Obligation was never entered into and the planning application was subsequently disposed of in April 2001.

27th March 2000 - Application 00/P/00577.  For demolition of all existing buildings and their replacement with a two storey office building with a mansard roof (as amended 13/07/2000).

An appeal on grounds of non-determination was lodged shortly before the application was to be considered by the Planning Committee on 16^th January 2001.  The Committee resolved that had they been in a position to determine the application, then it would have been refused.  The appeal was subsequently withdrawn in February 2001.

Fire gutted the main building on Sunday 20th April 2001.  See article from Surrey Advertiser below.

7th September 2001 - Application 01/P/01764.  For demolition of all existing buildings and their replacement with a two storey B1 office building, together with basement car parking under and services/plant room within the void of the pitched roof above. Construction of new main site vehicular access off the Salt Box Road roundabout and the construction of a surfaced car park to serve as a public park and ride facility (as amended by plans received 23/05/02, 04/07/02 & 05/07/02 & letter dated 24/06/02).

Following another successful campaign by local residents, Campmoss made various amendments in 2002.  The planning committee refused the application in February 2003.  Campmoss lodged an appeal in April 2003, which was withdrawn at appeal in October 2003.

17th January 2005 - Application 05/P/00093.  For three detached blocks comprising of 47 flats with access road and associated parking following demolition of all existing buildings.

GBC refused the above application April 2005.  See GBC Officers Report.

7th March 2006 - Applications 06/P/00467 & 468.  Two separate outline planning applications for the same site:

0467. Outline application for erection of two storey building for office (b1a) use, with provision for car parking and cycle store at lower ground level and associated access and highway alterations, following demolition of existing buildings and oversite slabs.  Application withdrawn on 03/04/07 following 13 objections from residents and comments from various authorities.  Withdrawn 2 months after the 0468 application below

0468. Outline application for the erection of two apartment blocks, comprising 47 flats with associated parking and alterations to existing access and highway works, following demolition of existing buildings and oversite slabs.  Application withdrawn on 27/01/07 following 15 objections from residents and comments from various authorities. Note that residential applications are not allowed within 400m of Whitmoor Common SPA, except under ‘special circumstances’.

26th October 2007 - Application 07/P/02310.  Outline application for erection of part three storey, part two storey building comprising residential care home (Class C2) for the elderly with associated car parking, following demolition of all existing buildings and oversite slab.  Delegated refusal 21-Jan-08 following 8 objections and planning officer's recommendation as inappropriate development, harmful to the character of the area.   Appeal 06-May-08  APP/Y3615/A/08/2073828.  Not decided yet.

22nd November 2007 - Application 07/P/02463.  Outline application for erection of part two storey with rooms in the roof and part single storey building for office (B1a) use with provision of car parking and cycle store at lower ground floor level and new access off Salt Box roundabout following demolition of existing buildings and oversite slabs.  Delegated refusal 21-Feb-08 following 8 objections and planning officer's recommendation as inappropriate development, harmful to the character of the area. 

2nd May-08 08/P/00853 Outline application for erection of part three storey, part two storey building comprising residential care home (class C2) for the elderly with associated car parking, following demolition of all existing buildings and oversite slabs.  Delegated refusal 01-Aug-08.