Plans for 100 homes near popular Surrey commuter town

Developer Denton Homes wants to build a new neighbourhood on fields west of Mill Lane in Hurst Green, near Oxted.

The outline application – meaning the exact details will come later – seeks permission for up to 100 houses, along with open space, drainage works and new access from Mill Lane.

Denton Homes has envisioned a new community in the Hurst Green neighbourhood.

With direct trains to London and still at the foot of the scenic views of the North Downs, Oxted makes an enchanting rural setting with city connections.

The company states 50 per cent of the homes would be affordable housing, aimed at helping meet local demand.

Sole access to the site would be provided by a new dedicated entrance off Mill Lane.

The 8.36-hectare – around 0.03 square mile – site currently consists of three parcels of pastureland. Although the whole area is included in the application, less than half would actually have homes built on it. The south-western section would be set aside as open space.

The land sits within the green belt and borders the River Eden along its western edge. The fields back on to homes along Mill Lane and Coltsfoot Land and a public footpath also runs across the northern part of the land.

Denton Homes describes the scheme as a “landscape-led” development. Essentially this means that the houses would be grouped closer to existing homes near Mill Lane, with large areas of greenery retained and enhanced at the southern borders.

The developer says new homes would overlook public open space and the countryside beyond, creating what it calls a “positive interface” with the rural landscape. Boundary hedges and trees would be kept where possible, with additional planting added.

Planning documents state that buildings would be no more than two storeys high and designed to match Oxted’s suburban character with red or buff brick, tiled roofs and traditional-style windows.

But not everyone is convinced. One resident commented: “Unfortunately, I do not believe the local infrastructure (doctors, schooling etc) will be able to support this additional volume of residents. Mill Lane in particular is too narrow to support the additional traffic.”

Residents can comment on the application on Tandridge District Council’s website until March 8, with a decision due in May.

The application is currently at outline stage, meaning councillors will first decide whether the principle of building up to 100 homes on the site is acceptable. Detailed designs would follow if permission is granted.