Homes approved on green belt land despite objections

Plans to build up to 250 homes on green belt land in a Surrey village have been approved despite local opposition.

The scheme in Oxshott received more than 800 objections from households and campaigners.

Local residents said roads in the area were already congested and an extra 250 homes would make things worse.

But the plans for Clouds Hill Farm on Leatherhead Road were backed by Elmbridge Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Planning officers argued the site could meet national planning rules for building on so-called "grey belt" land and said the benefits of housing outweighed the harm.

They highlighted that half the homes were expected to be 'affordable' and plans for public open space would cover 60% of the site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Ian Dilks, from the Federation of Oxshott Residents and Associations, argued the site should still be considered green belt and warned councillors they had not been given "valid evidence" to show it was a sustainable location.

Following a lengthy debate the committee voted eight to five in favour of the scheme with one abstention.

The approval is subject to a legal agreement securing affordable housing, infrastructure contributions and environmental measures.

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