Mole Valley District Council planning committee approve development

Mole Valley District Council’s planning committee approved developer Thakeham’s vision for the 27 hectare site off Little Bookham Street on Wednesday, February 5.

As well as the 200 homes, the plans will feature a community building, Gypsy and Traveller pitches, and public open space that the developers said would also open access to nearby ponds; 40 per cent of the homes would be affordable.

The site has been identified for development by the council’s local plan but the application had drawn more than 300 objections.

Residents speaking at the meeting raised issues of raw sewage – as well as the impact on the children in the area being bumped out of their local school’s catchment area.

Thames Water raised no objections.

Christine Milstead said: “Our green belt is definitely not Angela Rayner’s gray belt.

“We think this development will cause harm to the green belt and protected habitats.

“All residents have objected to surface water flooding and there are springs all over this site.

“For years residents have been pumping water off their patios to prevent their houses from flooding.

“When you get a lot of rain, water does not drain through permeable surfaces.

“Will the proposed infrastructure capture water from the rear of new properties or will it just run down to Little Bookham Street?”

Speaking on behalf of the plans was Tristan Robinson, Thakeham’s director of external affairs, who said Mole Valley was the fourth least affordable place to live in the country.

He talked about young couples struggling to afford housing and of 680 households on the waiting list.

Despite the plans being voted through, by eight in favour to three against with one objection, Councillor Joanna Slater (Conservative; Leatherhead South) cautioned on setting a precedent for developing above and beyond what what was laid out in the council’s local plan for green belt.

Cllr Paul Kennedy (Liberal Democrats: Bookham East and Eastwick Park) also urged the committee to heed residents and environmental groups who called for the protection of the “precious unspoiled countryside”.

The new homes will be net carbon zero and feature a mix of one to four-bedrooms.

The developers hope to create 45 acres of open space and a new country park open to the wider community.

Mr Robinson said: “After undertaking a comprehensive public consultation process for Land North West of Preston Farm, we are pleased to receive backing from Mole Valley District Council. The scheme includes 40 per cent affordable housing – something urgently needed locally – and significant new public open spaces for everyone to enjoy.”