The Planning and Regulatory Committee of Surrey Council met on Wednesday 26 November 2025, deciding to grant permission for a materials recycling facility at Trumps Farm, Longcross, and to deregister a portion of common land at Little Houndone Lane, Thursley, Godalming.

Materials Recycling Facility at Trumps Farm, Longcross

The committee unanimously approved the development of a materials recycling and recovery facility on land adjacent to Trumps Farm, Kittsmeet Lane, Longcross. The application, submitted by Surrey County Council, is consistent with Policy 1 and 11B of the Surrey Waste Local Plan, which allocates land for waste purposes. The facility is designed to sort and separate commingled curbside recycling collected from residents, with a forecast throughput of 100,000 tonnes per annum.

Concerns were raised regarding the impact on local roads and sensitive locations. James, a representative from the council's highways department, stated that the congestion impact had been modelled on a worst-case basis and did not show a material detriment to local junctions, provided total movements did not exceed the forecast maximum. He added that the vehicles are already on the network, and the facility would redistribute their routes. A key condition of the approval is the development of a comprehensive travel plan, which will detail specific routes and measures to minimise movements through sensitive areas, such as Chobham and Windlesham villages. This plan will be subject to further scrutiny before the facility can commence operation.

To address immediate road safety concerns at the access junction on Kittsmead Lane, which currently has a 40 mph speed limit, a condition has been recommended to introduce a 30 mph limit. This, along with minimal traffic calming measures and signage, is expected to ensure adequate sight lines.

Richard Parkinson, Head of Service for Resources and Circular Economy at Surrey County Council, explained that the facility would incorporate modern robotic sorting technology and artificial intelligence, allowing it to adapt to changes in recyclable materials. He highlighted the benefits of having a local facility, including better feedback on material quality and opportunities for educational visits. The facility is primarily intended to serve the north and west of Surrey, with an existing facility in Leatherhead serving the east.

The decision was made subject to conditions outlined in the report and supplementary agendas.

Deregistration of Common Land at Little Houndone Lane, Thursley, Godalming

The committee granted permission to deregister a portion of common land at Little Houndone Lane, Thursley, Godalming, under Schedule 2 of the Commons Act 2006. The application, made by Mr. Steve Mitchell of Little Houndone, sought to deregister land that was provisionally registered as common land on 10 May 1968 and became final on 25 May 1973.

The application land was split into two parcels, A and B. For Parcel A, the committee was satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the land was covered by a building or within the curtilage of a building at the time of provisional registration and had remained so since. Evidence, including photographs and written statements dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, indicated the presence of structures and their use in association with the dwelling known as Little Houndland. The physical layout, with access to Little Hounden via Parcel A, supported the conclusion that it formed part and parcel of the building.

However, for Parcel B, located some distance from the house and now separated by a riding arena, there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate it was within the curtilage of the dwelling at the date of provisional registration. While a tree house was present on Parcel B, its use by children was not considered sufficient to prove it formed part of the building. The Open Spaces Society initially objected to the application but accepted the officer's advice regarding Parcel A after legal consultation.

Therefore, the application was granted for Parcel A only, and rejected for Parcel B.

The meeting also included a public question time, with one question submitted by Smithy, the response to which was available in the supplementary papers. No member questions were received. Apologies were noted from Scott Lewis and John Robini, with Tim Hall excused due to his duties as Chair of the Council. The minutes from the previous meeting were confirmed without discussion.