Policy information sourced from the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy

SB1 South of the Borough Neighbourhood

The Council will:

a. Mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change by:

  • seeking to retain agricultural uses in the Green Belt land which presents opportunities for the implementation of measures to adapt to the effects of climate change, particularly through its potential to maintain a green environment and utilise its landscape to minimise the risk of flooding within the
  • Borough exploring potential for a District Heat Network at Chessington Industrial Estate

b. Manage and reduce the risk of flooding by:

  • protecting open spaces next to the Hogsmill River corridor from future development
  • ensuring development proposals seek to reduce surface water run-off through the inclusion of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs)
  • applying and implementing the recommendations of the borough-wide Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and Hogsmill Integrated Urban Drainage Study to manage and minimise the risk of flooding, paying particular attention to flood risk associated with the Bonesgate Stream and the Tolworth Brook/Surbiton Stream
  • working with partners to identify areas at risk of surface water flooding and develop actions to address these risks
  • working with partners and residents to mitigate and manage flood risk associated with the Bonesgate Stream and the Tolworth Brook/Surbiton Stream

c. Manage, protect, and enhance the natural and green environment by:

  • continuing to protect and enhance the Green Belt and provide good quality access to the open countryside on the urban fringe
  • continuing to treat Malden Rushett as a ‘washed over’ settlement and determine planning applications in accordance with national guidance (currently PPG2: Green Belts)
  • seeking to protect and enhance the strategic walking network through the Green Belt and along the Hogsmill River
  • maintaining and protecting access to the watercourses within the Neighbourhood, including the Hogsmill River and Bonesgate Stream
  • establishing and maintaining views to the Green Belt and open spaces along Leatherhead Road and near Green Lane, as per the Borough Character Study
  • seeking the enhancement of Mount Road Open Space Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), and improve and maintain the quality of all public green space in South of the Borough, particularly King Georges Field, Woodgate Avenue Open Space, Chessington Wood and King Edwards Recreation Ground which have been identified as having the best opportunities to implement change
  • treating, as a Major Developed Site, the land shown on the Proposals Map at Chessington World of Adventures. The Major Developed Site has been defined in accordance with national guidance (currently PPG2: Green Belts) and provides a boundary within which the existing land use as an amusement park has the benefit of being acceptable. Development within the Major Developed Site must meet criteria within PPG2 Annex C or any future policy guidance.

d. Promote and enhance sustainable transport options by:

  • seeking to address the poor levels of public transport provision in South of the Borough by working with partners to provide new or extended local bus services
  • working with TfL to manage congestion whilst improving road safety and crossing opportunities on the A3 and A243 
  • improving the local network of pedestrian and cycle routes particularly to Hook and Chessington shopping parades, Chessington Community College, primary schools, the Hook Centre and other community facilities
  • making the most of the Neighbourhood’s green spaces by enhancing the network of walking routes and cycle “greenways” to and through them
  • working with businesses, particularly in Chessington Industrial Estate to improve sustainable travel options for employees and reduce reliance on car travel through the development of travel plans and to manage freight movements to their sites to minimise the impact on surrounding residential areas

e. Work to protect and enhance the following positive character, design, and heritage features:

  • views across open land into and out of the Green Belt
  • the large areas of established, high quality outer suburban character
  • front and back gardens
  • property boundaries
  • street trees (including opportunities for new street trees and planting)
  • the Scheduled Ancient Monument at Castle Hill

f. Maintain and enhance housing options in the Neighbourhood by:

  • making the most of opportunities to develop family housing with gardens
  • working with developers to provide a range of new homes, including affordable homes, on Brownfield sites in and around Tolworth District Centre, including on the former Government offices, Toby Jug and Marshall House site
  • protecting and maintaining the established Gypsy and Travellers site at Swallow Park and taking opportunities to address unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in the Neighbourhood
  • seeking to meet needs for affordable housing and working with partners to identify suitable sites

g. Encourage employment opportunities in the Neighbourhood by:

  • continuing to protect Chessington Industrial Estate and Barwell Business Park as Strategic Industrial Locations and the Locally Significant Industrial Sites at Silverglade Business Park and Red Lion Industrial Estate
  • working with the Chessington Industrial Estate occupiers to deliver improvements to transport provision, the appearance of the area and enhanced facilities
  • supporting Chessington World of Adventures as a regional tourist attraction by partnership working with CWOA and the Local Community through the preparation of an appropriate planning document that supports planned investment. This planning document may include a review of the existing Major Developed Site boundary, which would be taken forward through the Development Plan process.

h. Maintain and enhance the South of the Borough’s retail, district and local centres’ facilities and services by:

  • maintaining, enhancing and where appropriate expanding the local facilities and services of the Ace of Spades, North Parade and Hook Parade Local Centres
  • encouraging in the largest retail deficiency area, appropriate A1 convenience shops, or in special circumstances other retail uses where a benefit to the local residents can be demonstrated
  • supporting the implementation of improvements to Tolworth District Centre (see Section 5 for further details)

i. Accommodate the need for additional or expanded healthcare facilities by:

  • working with local health providers in order to identify and deliver suitable sites for the expansion and or replacement of GP premises, particularly in Chessington North, Tolworth and Hook Rise wards
  • supporting the establishment of dentistry practices and enhanced pharmacy and optical services in the Tolworth area

j. Address the need to provide additional school places in the South of the Borough by:

  • exploring opportunities to provide improved facilities for Southborough Boys and Tolworth Girls Schools
  • supporting the expansion of Lovelace and Ellingham Primary schools

k. Ensure the continued provision of community facilities by:

  • working to maintain and enhance access to community centres and libraries and explore opportunities for improved leisure facilities, including a new public swimming pool
  • working to maintain and enhance diversity and access to recreation and leisure opportunities in the area, including the Chessington Sports Centre, the golf course, the strategic walking network, football pitches and horse centres

For more information please see the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy