Suggested objections

When you write or email to the Council or Councillors it helps if you state clearly what you are objecting to, and refer to the draft policies in the Local Plan if possible.

Loss of the Green Belt

It is a very good idea to refer to recent Government guidance in a form of the recently revised National Planning Policy Framework. This document is very important as it has just been issued! In relation to the Green Belt, the guidance states:

“Once established, there is no requirement for Green Belt boundaries to be reviewed or changed when plans are being prepared or updated.” (Para 145)

It goes on to state that the Council should look at all other options for housing land before deciding to build on Green Belt.

It also encourages the conversion of empty offices and space above shops in order to provide housing.

There are many empty offices, including some large office blocks, in Epsom, which could be converted or redeveloped for housing, in accordance with this revised Guidance.

Affordable housing

The Council wants you to believe that the houses that would be built on Green Belt land would be affordable. Unfortunately, this is a myth! The Council and builders will only have to provide housing which is 20% less in price than market prices. In Epsom the average price of houses is over £600k. Reducing this by 20% would still result in a price of nearly £500k.

Building these homes on brownfield sites (ie, sites which have already been built on) would be cheaper and more likely to be near transport, work and shops.

Climate change

One of the headlines in the news recently was the fact that, for the first time, during the whole of last year, global warming exceeded 1.5 º C. We have also just had the warmest February ever!

Climate change results in more flooding, more storms, heatwaves and extremes of weather, which are disastrous for humans and wildlife alike.

In the Draft Local Plan for Epsom, the Council states its commitment to being carbon neutral by 2035, setting out a programme to achieve this.

However, the Council seems quite happy to see large areas of Green Belt covered in houses, when green areas are essential to absorb CO2 and combat climate change!

Flooding

The Environment Agency’s studies have shown that areas of the Green Belt, such as Horton Farm and land in Chantilly Way, already suffer from surface water flooding, yet the Council refuses to recognise this. Building on these sites would result in potentially catastrophic flooding on and around the land, because there would be fewer green areas to enable rainwater to drain away. This could affect your homes!

Schools and doctors

The Local plan shows no provision for more schools or doctors’ surgeries, to meet the needs of thousands more residents. For example, the Council seems to consider Southfield Park school sufficient provision for the children of 1,500 more houses on Horton Farm and 25 more houses on the land in Chantilly Way!

Roads and traffic

Roads into and out of Epsom are already heavily congested at peak times. The roads themselves are already in a dreadful state, with potholes and bad surfacing everywhere. How will they cope with so much more traffic?

Loss of biodiversity

Land at Priest Hill is next door to a nature reserve. Horton Farm is the 7th most biodiverse site in the Borough, yet the Council doesn’t seem to take the loss of biodiversity into account when planning for development. For more information on biodiversity see the FAQs page of the website.

Finally, please make your letter personal, otherwise it will not be counted as an objection!