New 500-home plan could double size of Surrey village
A huge new housing development could more than double the size of South Godstone under early plans revealed this week – a move which could significantly reshape the village if approved.
Developers Regency & Co have envisioned around 500 homes on farmland to the north of the village on the green belt.
The scheme, dubbed Pale Park Village, would stretch across roughly 35 hectares of fields either side of the A22, stretching across the top and side of South Godstone.
Access to the development would come directly from the main road.
It is still early days: the developer has asked Tandridge District Council for a scoping opinion, which decides what environmental studies need to be carried out for a full planning application to be put forward.
The detailed study could look at how the project may affect wildlife and habitats, landscape changes, noise, air quality and water pollution as well as other local issues.
Planning documents detail 500 new homes, in buildings up to four storeys high, alongside shops or community spaces, play areas, allotments, and almost 19 hectares of open space.
The layout could also include car and cycle parking and every home could have an electric vehicle charging point.
The land is currently open countryside used for grazing and grassland, and it falls entirely within the green belt buffer.
It is bordered by open fields, farmland and two Grade II-listed buildings.
Although the site is not part of any nationally protected areas, it is surrounded by several local nature conservations sites according to planning documents.
If given the green light quickly, construction is currently expected to start around 2027 with the site fully built and occupied by 2030.