THE May 1 deadline set by Waverley Council for submission of a planning application for the East Street redevelopment is set to pass without any plans forthcoming from developers Crest Nicholson Sainsbury's (CNS). Four months after councillors attended a series of meetings and resolved to speed up the much-protracted process, the developers revealed this week that they anticipate making a planning application in late July. It is, they believe, "a more realistic target, given the level of work needed". Waverley's corporate overview and scrutiny committee meets next Thursday to consider the outcome of discussions with the developer and other matters including the compulsory purchase order Waverley decided to proceed with to speed up site assembly. Much of the information the committee will receive is contained in a confidential appendix and is expected to be discussed behind closed doors. However, the agenda report explains that CNS has prepared a revised scheme, "which they believe delivers all the elements required under the development brief and will achieve the comprehensive regeneration of the east Street site". But the report also makes reference to the developer's response, when informed of Waverley's requirement that a planning application be submitted no later than May 1. CNS had pointed out that it required a period of 18 weeks to work up a planning application, and that this work could not start until Waverley's final development control consultancy forum regarding the development had been held. "As yet no date has been fixed for this forum," the committee will be told. Asked when the forum might take place, Waverley Council indicated this week that it was unable to comment until the issues had been discussed by the overview and scrutiny committee and, on May 17, by the executive and full council. A CNS spokesman commented: "The delay to the application is due to the complex pre- application work required, including technical and environmental studies and land assembly issues, as well as the pre-application consultation forums, "However, we are confident that this thorough pre-application preparation will assist a speedier and more informed consideration of the application when it is lodged and we are firmly committed to bringing the plans forward as soon as this process allows."
