Surbiton floating homes developer "reaches agreement" with conservation group

Seething Wells Filter Beds

Portsmouth Road

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Surbiton.com: December 17, 2012 - 10:08am

A property developer planning to build floating homes on the Surbiton filter beds site has finally reached an agreement to bring in a conservation group.

Hydro Properties boss Phillip Wallis told a planning committee on Wednesday that the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WTT) will help run the site, if the firm pushes through their planning application. Hydro announced the deal with WTT back in August, but was forced to backtrack after the eco-charity insisted no deal had been struck.

In a letter handed by Hydro Properties to spectators at the meeting WTT confirmed it had stopped short of adding its voice in support. WTT said there was no formal agreement in place but admitted to a deal with Hydro “in principle”. Battle lines were drawn between developers and opposition group FOSW with each handing out marketing material in a bid to win over the packed meeting hall. Both groups had turned up to have their say and discuss a report presented to the committee from the council’s eco company Baker Shepherd and Gillespie.

First up were residents linked to the FOSW who disputed the findings, claiming the scheme would have a detrimental effect on wildlife, specifically the roosting Daubenton bat. Mr Wallis went next, though barely audible through a chorus of boos and heckles, pointing to the lifting of a Natural England objection and the deal with the WTT as proof the scheme was “right for Surbiton”. He got little support from councillors either, who took it in terms to condemn the scheme, often followed by rapturous applause from the audience.

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/10112072.Surbiton_floating_homes_developer__re...

SurreyComet.co.uk

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