Four sites could be developed into more than 100 new homes in Surrey

Council-owned land could be redeveloped to provide affordable homes with specialist accommodation.

Members have agreed to move forward with a tendering process on four sites to provide housing on May 27 at a Surrey County Council cabinet meeting.

The final number of homes at each site – including the mix of general housing and supported accommodation – will be confirmed during the tender process.

A new council report gave a stark warning of the “housing crisis” in Surrey, leading to members working on providing some form of accommodation for those who require social care as one of the most vulnerable groups.

Social rent will be prioritised in the new affordable homes, council documents claim.

“It’s not about building homes, it’s about building futures,” said Sinead Mooney, lead councillor for adult social care in Surrey.

“It’s about ensuring that some of our most vulnerable residents have access to safe, supportive and sustainable accommodation that enables them to live independently and thrive within their communities.”

Cllr Mooney said: “Access to housing is a cornerstone of well-being for all.

“For people with mental health needs, the right housing combined with the right support can be life changing.

“It can mean the difference between recovering and relapse, isolation and inclusion.”

The four selected development sites include:

• Chalkmead in Merstham
• Keswick in Great Bookham
• Longfield in Cranleigh
• Meadowside in Staines

Originally five council-owned buildings were selected to be part of the scheme, but the council said on Tuesday that more investigation was needed for the Heathside site in Woking.

Cllr Mooney said there is a commitment to put Woking back on the table.

Elmbridge and Waverley boroughs have the strongest level of need for care units (between 46-60).

However, none of the new developments will be in Elmbridge, with perhaps the nearest centre being in Staines.

On the other hand, Reigate & Banstead borough, which has one of the lowest needs for care units (between 5-15) could see a new development in Merstham.

Demand for mental health services has continued to rise following the Covid-19 pandemic, council documents state.

In January 2020 there were 1,621 open cases with a primary social care need of mental health- meaning, a person’s main need of support is directly related to their mental health which they need social care support for.

This has increased to 3,212 in May 2025.

Hoping to promote inclusion and social cohesion, the scheme aims to create community housing that reduces the stigma around mental health and social care.

The self-contained (meaning it has all the necessary facilities like kitchen and bathroom etc.) units for those with mental health needs will be incorporated alongside those who require other kinds of support.

Only individuals who are assessed as eligible for support under the Care Act 2014 will be referred to the homes designated for those with social care or mental health needs.

The council said it will continue to work with the housing sector to look at social housing provision.

Surrey County Council said the short supply of self-contained accommodation limits their ability to support a greater number of people in their recovery or to manage their ongoing mental health needs in an independent environment.

The new developments will focus on increasing the capacity of self-contained accommodation to support the system.

Until the tendering process is completed, the exact number of accommodation units cannot be confirmed.

But the council predicts it could be between 100-130 units across all of the site.

Council documents reveal the project will not be funded or delivered directly.

Instead, the sites will be marketed alongside a development agreement whereby the developer will provide an agreed number of units in lieu of some or all of the value of the land.