Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has launched a public consultation on the future of housing in the borough and is calling on residents to have their say.

The consultation, "Our future in your hands", focuses on how much housing will be needed and where it might go, presenting four possible options.

The council has said there is enough room to build 3,000 new homes to address the current housing crisis, but it may need to build on the Green Belt to do this.

Councillor Graham Dudley, chairman of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, said: "We have been as open as possible with residents in telling the story as it really is.

"There is high demand for more housing in Epsom and Ewell but only a limited amount of available land on which to build it. In situations like this, national planning policy requires us to look closely at all options, including our Green Belt.

"The consultation looks at four possible options. None of these are easy but we have no alternative other than to consider them.

"We believe that the opinions of our residents and other local interest groups are essential in helping us shape the future of the borough and I urge everyone to take part in the consultation."

These are the four options, as outlined in the consultation document by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

Option 1 - Urban intensification

The first option would result in the urban intensification of Epsom and Ewell, which would mean tall buildings of at least six storeys.

The council has said the development could include redeveloping industrial estates and converting office space into flats.

The proposal would meet the government's housing need in full however the homes would have to be built on open spaces, play pitches and allotments.

There are only a few buildings in the borough suitable for tall buildings and there are fears it could change the character and appearance of the borough and homes may be "contrived and substandard."

Option 2 - Release some Green Belt land for new homes

This option would include the creation of new homes by identifying areas in the Green Belt suitable for supporting housing and infrastructure.

It would mean the existing character of the urban area is maintained, unlike option 1, and protects employment land and green spaces.

Epsom Common and Horton Park Reserve would be protected and there would be space for supporting infrastructure, like schools.

However it would result in some loss of the Green Belt and the cost of delivering the necessary infrastructure would be very high, the consultation document says.

Option 3 - Significant Green Belt release

If more of the Green Belt was released for these houses, then it would provide more than enough land to accommodate the borough's housing need as well as creating space for new homes beyond the next 15 years and may even accommodate some of the neighbours' unmet housing need.

It would protect the existing character of the urban area and again would protect areas such as Epsom Common and Horton Park Nature Reserve.

However the significant loss of the Green Belt means there is a risk the boundary no longer serves its purposes.

The consultation document says this would place significant pressure on infrastructure and the cost of delivering the necessary infrastructure, such as roads and schools, will be very high.

Option 4 - Finding the balance

This option would be a hybrid of the others, which would include a continuation of building on previously developed sites for the next five years and the creation of new areas for housing by undertaking a detailed review of the Green Belt.

Again this option would maintain the existing character of the urban area and would protect the most important part of the Green Belt to ensure the boundaries can be safeguarded in the long term.

It will continue to protect employment land, parks, allotments and play pitches.

However it would not meet all housing needs and would result in reliance on neighbouring boroughs to meet the shortfall.

How to have your say

The consultation runs until November 6 and you can have your say via the council website here.


