Fears new development may impact green belt

Residents have voiced their concerns about a housing development proposal that could impact green belt land in a rural Surrey village.

Developers want to develop 1.25 hectares of grazing paddock and a horse riding school in Park Lane, Warlingham, and build 45 homes, with 40% of those being affordable, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, locals have objected to the proposals over fears of losing the rural feel of the village.

Developers Chartwell Land and New Homes said the development would not result in an adverse impact on the surrounding area.

One resident said she feared the village would become "another dreary suburb of Croydon".

Meanwhile, a couple added: "Our green spaces are being whittled away, so our future generations will grow up in not an area of natural beauty and space to breathe but house upon house as far as the eye can see."

The developers said the site included a "significant" buffer around the housing to prevent urban sprawl beyond the boundaries of the existing village.

"The site was previously identified in the local plan and applications on other similar sites in Warlingham have been approved on the basis of being allocated," a spokesperson said.

"The application follows extensive pre-application dialogue with Tandridge District Council and is supported by technical reports which demonstrate the development will not result in an adverse impact on the surrounding area."

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