Campaigners want greenbelt safe from development

Residents said they have seen badgers on the edge of the arable field

Campaigners have said they are outraged over plans for 110 new homes on green belt land on the edge of Epsom Downs.

A petition opposed to the proposals for farmland in Langley Vale has received more than 1,000 signatures, amid fears the development would bring more traffic to the area.

John Mumford of the Woodcote Epsom Residents Society and Save Langley Vale said: "We don't need to build on a pristine greenbelt site like this. There are other sites within the borough, brownfield sites, that would be much better to accommodate the housing need of the borough."

A spokesperson from developers Fairfax said the proposal had been "sensitively designed" and promoted sustainable living.

Mr Mumford said he worried the proposed development on arable farmland would "completely undermine the integrity of the green belt around Langley Vale village".

He said it was also an important approach to the Woodland Trust's Centenary Wood and was an area that was "much loved by everybody for dog walking, recreation purposes".

Campaigners fear the loss of farmland close to a track where racehorses are exercised at Epsom

Matt Dunn, who grew up near the proposed site, said housing was needed but "it's about what land we use for that".

He added: "What we'd like to see is to see a brownfield first policy in action rather than just in words and to protect the countryside that we do have.

"We've got a lot less than we used to have. Biodiversity is down massively in this country over the last 50 years and that's something that we need to balance with the need for housing as well."

Resident Megan Bloomfield said: "I completely understand that we need more affordable housing in the area, but I just do not think this is the right solution for it.

"It would absolutely destroy the beautiful landscape that we've got here. The traffic is already an absolute nightmare in the morning."

She said it was "ludicrous" to suggest there would only be a few cars on a new estate.

"There's not enough public transport here for that to be possible," she added.

A spokesperson from developers Fairfax said: "This is a sensitively designed, landscape-led community delivering up to 110 high-quality new homes, including a 50% affordable housing provision, directly addressing the borough's urgent housing needs.

They said the proposal would "create a natural extension to Langley Vale and will link to existing public rights of way to promote healthy, sustainable living".

They said the estate was designed to "achieve over 10% biodiversity net gain, meet exemplary energy efficiency standards, and enhance local connectivity" and would support the local economy "through construction and ongoing spending, but also delivers a thriving, inclusive neighbourhood in harmony with its location".

The outline planning application was submitted to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council in July.