The history of the existing car-park site is completely bound up with the development of the land that now forms the St Margarets Business Centre. You can see much of the historic planning activity on the site using the LBRUT Planning Portal
The car-park in Drummond Place originally formed the showroom end of the "British Engraving Works" from the 1960's to the 1980's, the engraving works extended into what is now known as the Business Park and the white brick wall that backs onto the rear of Godstone Road is now the only remnant of that factory.
In the 1980's a proposal was put forward to build the Business Park and the car-park was clearly intended (from the plans that were passed) to provide nominated spaces for some of the units as well as some spaces for visitors.
(See Planning Decision and Conditions Apr 1982 - https://planning.richmond.gov.uk/richmond/application-details/121440)
Over the last 20 years or so the Business Park has consistently denied access to the car-park and has even put measures in place to prevent access to anyone - at one stage cars would be clamped there. Over the last years the Business Park has changed hands and the new owners have tried to sell the car-park area (subject to planning permission).
The Winchester Road end of the Business Park is not allowed to be used by HGV traffic but what has become clear is that the car-parking within the business park is now at an all time premium there. Whilst some HGV's enter correctly from the Moormead Park entrance (many do not however) they are then forced to leave from the Winchester Road exit making the crossing from the pavement to the foot-bridge even more hazardous than it already is.
Residents in Winchester and Godstone Road received letters in July 2020 (shown below) informing us of the developer's intention to submit a planning application to build 4 houses on the existing site of the car-park at St Margarets Business Centre.
It was clear from their letter (and confirmed via e-mail) that plans would involve the removal of the existing trees and hedges (all of which are at least 38 years old or more). It was also clear from their letter that the developers were seeking to re-establish the boundary of the site and narrow the pavements considerably.
We know that the St Margarets Business Centre (including the car-park) changed hands at the end of 2018 for £7 900 000 (as shown on the land registry) and we have been told that the car-park site has then been sold Subject To Planning Permission to "Godstone Developments Ltd", a subsiduary of Sheen Lane Developments.
Richmond Council (LBRUT) placed Tree Preservation Orders (TPO's) on the entire site in October 2019 presumably in anticipation of what they knew was intended and these were confirmed in February 2020. Local residents had their own tree survey made and are worked with Habitats and Heritage (then SWLEN) to monitor bat activity (of which there is plenty it seems).
Original development letter and proposed plan
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