More than 75 new homes earmarked for ‘grey belt’ field near Horley
Plans to build dozens of new homes on an east Surrey field in the green belt have been submitted to the council.
The proposal would see 78 homes built after knocking down the existing buildings on “equestrian land” in the village of Smallfield near Horley.
It would be accessed via Redehall Road, with planning documents saying the scheme will include 50 per cent affordable housing.
Planning documents submitted by the applicant say: “The amount of development proposed can be satisfactorily accommodated within the site.
“Whilst maximising the number of dwellings is essential to achieving a viable development, any proposed buildings should be of high quality design and meet national and local policy requirements.”
The market homes included in the scheme would comprise a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses. The affordable provision would include a similar range of houses as well as eight one-bedroom flats.
While the proposed site falls within the green belt – which would normally see stringent planning restrictions put in place – the planning documents argue the site should be classified as ‘grey belt’.
This definition was introduced to national planning guidelines under the Labour government amid a drive to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.
It allows for looser planning restrictions if land “does not strongly contribute” to green belt purposes.
But the developer added that they believe the proposals would qualify for “very special circumstances” to justify green belt building – even if the grey belt designation is rejected – owing to “pressing and urgent unmet need for housing across the entire district”.
“The delivery of housing from this site is a matter which must be given significant weight in favour of granting permission in the overall planning balance applied to the application,” the documents read.
They add: “Due to the lack of five year housing land supply and out of date development plan, the Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development must be applied in the determination of any planning application on the site.”
Tandridge District Council will consider the planning application, which was validated on July 3 – with a decision due by October 2.