Residents have until the 20th of November 2024 to persuade councillors to remove high performing green belt sites from the Local Plan. If these Green Belt sites have not been removed from the Local Plan by this date, then they will be lost forever; Horton Farm, Priest Hill, Hook Road Arena and land to the east of Nobel Park.

20th November 2024, the 10 members of the Licencing Policy Planning Commitee (LPPC) will vote whether to approve the Local Plan to submit to Full Council.

10th December 2024, the Full Council of 35 councillors will vote whether to approve the Local Plan.

December 2024, Angela Rayner's new NPPF due to be set in concrete (Communities unable to block planning).

Please email your Ward councillors, LPPC councillors and senior Council Officers NOW requesting that they take action now to start Reg 19, issue the consultation and complete the Local Plan process.

Council Officers:

CEO, Jackie King: jking@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Director of Housing, Vicky Potts: vpotts@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Planning Development Officer, Justin Turvey: jturvey@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Legal Officer, Piero Ionta: pionta@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Licencing & Policy Planning Commitee (LPPC) Cllrs:

P. O'Donovan: po'donovan@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

N. Dallen: ndallen@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

R. Leach: rleach@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

R. Geleit: rgeleit@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

S Goldman: sGoldman@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

J. Morris: jmorris@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

P. Neale: pneale@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

K. Persand: kPersand@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

H. Reynolds: hreynolds@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

C. Woodbridge: cwoodbridge@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Proposed Transitional Timeline

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Last chance saloon for council to protect the borough

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Welcome

Why do we need a website?

You may be aware that Epsom & Ewell Borough Council issued a Draft Local Plan for comments in early 2023. This shows large areas of Green Belt allocated for housing, contrary to all Government guidance.

Despite 87% of respondents objecting to this, and despite recent Government guidance which gives even more reasons not to build on these areas, the Council is continuing to progress this Local Plan.

Why is this so bad for the Borough?

There are many reasons why building on the Green Belt is unnecessary and imprudent. These include loss of open space, impact on wildlife, flood risk, lack of schools and health facilities, and the fact that the housing necessary for Epsom & Ewell can be built on sites which have already been built on! For an in-depth analysis please look at our FAQs page.

I want to object, but how do I do this?

Sometimes it is difficult to know how to start an objection letter, and how to word your concerns. If you need help, please look at our Suggested Objections page for ideas. Please can you write your own letter, as multiple identical letters are not counted.

Can I do this in a few month’s time?

It is vital that we keep up the pressure on Councillors and Officers to show them that we care about our environment. The time to write is Now, AND Later!

The Daily Telegraph

The Labour green belt plans spooking a Surrey market town.

Campaigners in Epsom say it could lose its leafy appeal under Rachel Reeves’s plans to fast-track house-building efforts.

The Times

Britain's housing war:
fighting for the green belt

We will shortly start raising funds to support our campaign to protect the Green Belt.

Donations will be used to fund publicity for the campaign, and legal action against the council.

All donations would be much appreciated to support this work. We will update this page when the fundraising commences.