Wildlife fears as 650 homes planned on golf course

Concerns about the loss of green space for deer and geese have been raised after developers submitted plans to build 650 homes on a golf course.

Woking councillor Leslie Rice said Sutton Green golf course was an oasis for biodiversity and natural wildlife, and has warned that "all of that will be lost" if the houses are built.

Standing next to the 18-hole course, he said the key question for Woking Borough Council was whether it was prepared to take land out of the green belt.

Developers Quinn Estates said the land was "grey belt" and the plans would provide much-needed housing.

The government describes grey belt as "poor quality" areas of green belt land which it identifies for faster housing development.

Rice said the golf course was "an area of natural wildlife".

"There are normally deer on the golf course. Deer roam around this area, all of that will be lost," he said.

"People need housing. We need affordable housing. But I don't think this is the answer."

He said the 40-acre site was "an integral part of the green belt between Woking and Guildford".

He also said traffic was a major concern because the site leads onto a country lane, not a main road.

He said the proposal - which includes affordable housing and a care home - also included 950 parking spaces.

Local resident Maggie Chapman said she was "shocked" at the scale of the development and said the area lacked schools and healthcare provision. She said the roads were "narrow and dangerous" nearby.

"In my garden, we've got protected great-crested newts," she said.

"We've got bats roosting in our house. We've got grass snakes, which are protected."

Barbara Kamp, who has lived in the area for nearly 60 years, said the road, which had seen accidents and flooding, was already full of cars.

"I totally object to the green belt being destroyed," she said.

In a statement, Quinn Estates said the site was in an area of identified housing need and half of the homes would be affordable.

It said: "In addition, the development would also provide a care home, a significant increase in publicly-accessible open green spaces in the form of a country park, together with parking, commercial space and infrastructure for the benefit of existing and future residents in the area."

Sutton Green Golf Club has not commented.

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