Plans for 300 homes on green belt land submitted

Half of the development will be affordable homes, according to the developer

Plans for more than 300 new homes on Surrey green belt land have been submitted, with residents having until December to comment on them.

Developer Martin Grant Homes has filed two applications with Woking Borough Council to build 309 homes on Saunders Lane, in Mayford.

The first seeks to build 162 homes to the north west of Saunders Lane, while the second is aiming for 147 homes to the north east.

Half the housing will be affordable and split across the two sites, according to planning documents.

'Grey belt'

The developer argues the land can take up to 350 homes.

It said the council had an urgent need for housing, which could also restrict any efforts to reject the plans.

The developer said the council could run out of suitable space for new homes in just over two years.

The statement read: "Whilst the site is currently located within the green belt, it is considered that the site comprises 'grey belt' land."

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Official guidance has stated land can be designated grey belt if it "does not strongly contribute" to three of the main purposes of the green belt, which are to stop towns merging, prevent urban sprawl and protect historic towns.

The Saunders Lane site is surrounded by woodland and large detached homes within the Hook Heath Conservation Area to the north.

To the east lies a paddock, playing fields and a play area near Mayford Village Hall.

At this stage, the developer has yet to decide on the exact mix of housing, but has anticipated it will be a mixture of one to four-bed properties, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The planning statement reads: "The benefits of the proposed development are wide-ranging and significant."

It said the proposals sought "to provide a range of house types and sizes to meet local needs and provide choice in the local housing market".

Comments can be submitted via the Woking Borough Council website until 1 December.