Council told to plan for more affordable homes

Elmbridge borough includes the towns of Esher and Cobham

A Surrey borough has been told to re-think its plan for 8,000 new homes and to better meet demand for affordable homes.

Elmbridge borough, which includes the towns of Esher, Cobham and Walton, has been labelled one of the "least affordable in the country" by a planning inspector.

The inspector looking at Elmbridge Borough Council's local plan, which sets out where and when new homes would be built up to 2040, says it is "unsound" in its current format.

The council's leader and deputy leader said in a joint statement that "tough decisions" would have to be made in the weeks and months ahead.

Planning inspector Christa Masters said the delivery of affordable housing was "one of the most pressing issues" in Elmbridge and that it was a "key priority" for the council.

In a letter to the council, Ms Masters said: "In terms of affordable housing, the plan as submitted would do little to address affordable housing needs over the plan period, in a borough recognised as one of the most expensive places to live nationally."

"This ranks Elmbridge as one of the least affordable boroughs in the country," Ms Masters added.

The council adopted a "brownfield only approach" of building on land that had previously been developed, rather than on green belt land.

Ms Masters said releasing green belt land for new homes "would be a justified and effective approach in this instance".

Mike Rollings, the council's leader and Simon Waugh, the deputy leader, said they may need to rethink the approach taken in submitting the draft local plan.

They added: "We understand this may alarm some residents.

"Building on green belt has historically not been favoured by our residents, with fears of uncontrolled and out of character development into green spaces often voiced."