Residents raise £7,000 in fight against homes plan

Villagers are concerned about the size of the development on the edge of Stoke D'Abernon

Campaigners say they have raised more than £7,000 in their fight to oppose plans for 250 new homes on the edge of a Surrey village.

The homes are proposed for Blundel Lane, south of the Polyapes Scout Campsite in Stoke D'Abernon.

Surrey County Councillor David Lewis described Stoke D'Abernon as a historic village which went back to the Domesday Book, and said if the application went ahead it would "completely change the character" of the village.

A spokesperson for the developer, Mac Mic Strategic Land Limited, said they understood many local residents may be concerned about new housing in the green belt.

The homes are planned for land next to a scout campsite

Sue Prentice, who lives near the site, said it was "overwhelming" to have raised the money in a little over two weeks since starting the fundraiser.

Ian Nelson, chairman of the Stoke D'Abernon Residents' Association, said the total was made up of lots of small donations and also a recent £1,000 anonymous donation.

He said money had been spent on banners and leaflets, and more would be spent on planning and transport consultants.

"It would be such a shame for this to go ahead, it would destroy lovely wildlife habitat, peaceful semi rural location and it would upset the balance of the village," he added.

David Lewis said the planned development would change the character of the village

Lewis raised concerns about the traffic on Blundel Lane, including a narrow railway bridge in one direction and the junction with Stoke Road in another direction.

"We have concerns that the proposals which are part of the application simply would not address the problems that would be created by the additional traffic coming from the site," he added.

A spokesperson for Mac Mic previously said the development aimed to create a "well-planned, connected and integrated sustainable extension to Stoke D'Abernon".

The developer plans to deliver 125 affordable homes at the site.

Lewis said residents in affordable homes may not always be able to afford to run a car, and were therefore reliant on public transport, cycling and walking so housing had to be in a sustainable location.

"Houses should be [the] right number, in [the] right place and supported with [the] right level of infrastructure," he added.

A Mac Mic Group spokesperson said new drainage systems in the proposals would effectively manage surface water run-off from the development.

They said improvements at the junction of Blundel Lane with Stoke Road and Station Road were part of the proposals and they were exploring improved pedestrian and cycle routes over a railway bridge n Blundel Lane with Surrey County Council.

"This site has been previously identified for potential release as weakly performing green belt by Elmbridge Borough Council within its emerging local plan and our analysis demonstrates that the site meets the government's definition of grey belt as set out in national policy," they added.

"With a national housing crisis, and the need for the right homes locally, sites like this can be vital in delivering homes in a sustainable way."