The Chapel - Cooper's Hill Lane  
02/12/2020

Planning application RU.20/0728

The Chapel, Cooper's Hill Lane, TW20 0JY

We managed to get 29 letters of objection sent in to RBC Planning in late June through to late July this year. The application has now been revived with a few changes to the design of the proposed building (using the same reference number as before) but again putting forward the unacceptable demolition of The Chapel.

Please consider sending another, or your first, letter of representation to RBC Planning (Case Officer – Louise Waters) to seek to prevent the demolition of The Chapel, constructed in the late 19 th Century as part of the Royal Indian Engineering College. In its place, the developer plans to construct a 4 storey detached building (including accommodation in the roof) to provide 9 residential dwellings and associated parking/ landscaping.

If approved by the RBC Planning Committee, this would see the destruction of yet more Heritage in our village. The Case Officer’s report concerning RU.11/0207 (the original planning application for the Brunel site, submitted in 2011) Section 6.114 says ‘The proposals also involve the retention and conversion of the Chapel on the site (which dates back to the late 1800’s). Whilst this is not listed, it is of historic and architectural interest in the context of the site. It has been badly converted internally, and again, its sensitive renovation and conversion to two dwellings is a beneficial and positive aspect of the proposals. The retention of mature trees on its eastern side, and positioning of new buildings around it allow it to maintain a reasonable setting and visual links with the President’s Hall complex.’ Surely there must be some way of retaining The Chapel for the landscaping and potential amenity it offers to owners/tenants of accommodation within the development site.

As usual, you can use the ‘comments’ link on the RBC Planning site or email to planning@runnymede.gov.uk and remember to provide your name and full address (which is redacted before posting of letters of representation is made on the RBC Planning site) to ensure your comments are registered. The official cut-off date for receipt of comments is Thursday 24th December but, as that is so close to Christmas, please send in your letter of objection up to a week before that to ensure it is logged and posted on the RBC Planning site by 24th December.

The EGVRA Team