Plans for homes on former gas works come under fire

There are plans for more than 450 new homes on the former SGN gas works site.

Plans for more than 450 new homes on the site of a former Surrey gas works have come under fire from residents.

Proposals for the site, in East Street, Epsom, include five buildings between eight and 12 storeys high.

The Epsom and Ewell Green Belt Group raised concerns about the buildings being “significantly taller than anything else in the borough” and also the lack of affordable homes.

Property developer Zenith Land said its proposals had been "carefully crafted to bring the maximum public benefit" to the brownfield site.

The new homes will be spread over five buildings.

The plans include a new home for the Laine Theatre Arts dance and drama training college.

Historic gas infrastructure on the former SGN gas works site would also be removed.

Katherine Alexander, from the Epsom and Ewell Green Belt group, said the buildings would be double the height proposed in the council’s draft Local Plan and set a precedent for future developments.

She said the group wanted more homes to be built over a larger area of land instead.

“This is the biggest and best opportunity for brownfield home building in the borough for a generation,” she said.

“(It) should not be squandered through a lack of imagination or a failure to work hard to deliver the housing the borough truly needs. Let's do it, and do it right.”

'Once in a generation opportunity'

Zenith Land said it had worked hard to seek the views of local councillors and local people.

The spokesperson said: "Developing brownfield sites reduces the pressure on building houses on the green belt.

"Our scheme is high quality and thoughtful. It represents a once in a generation opportunity to turn an ugly, contaminated brownfield site into a lively new quarter, delivering much-needed new homes in the heart of Epsom."

Councillor Steven McCormick, Chair of the Planning Committee at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, said: "Any planning application received will be subject to the usual protocol and procedures and will be dealt with by the Planning Committee in due course.”