New green belt development approved

Multiple concerns have been raised about the development

A plan to build 45 homes on Surrey green belt land has been given the green light.

Park Lane, near Warlingham, will be developed by Chartwell Land and New Homes Ltd following approval by Tandridge District Council's planning committee on Thursday.

Concerns had been raised about substantial harm to the green belt, highway safety and flooding, while councillors said they were worried a refusal could lead to a costly appeal process.

Surrey faces a shortage of affordable homes, with more than 10,000 households on a local authority housing waiting list, according to a Surrey County Council (SCC) document.

'Another dreary suburb'

The scheme will see open paddock land on the edge of Warlingham, which sits within the designated protected green belt, developed into a housing estate.

Sarah Johnson, part of the campaign group Save Warlingham's Green Belt, said at the meeting the land provided a "longstanding buffer between Warlingham and the countryside".

One resident said the village would lose its "rural feel" and "become another dreary suburb of Croydon".

A majority of councillors gave the scheme the go-ahead after considering the affordable housing provision, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

They said they feared if they refused the application a lengthy and expensive appeal process would ensue that they would ultimately lose, therefore wasting taxpayers' money.