Former playing fields could finally become housing estate if permission granted

The proposed development, including 25 per cent affordable housing, would be built on the De Burgh School site in Chetwode Road, Tadworth, near Burgh Heath.

Surrey County Council has reapplied for outline planning permission and plans to sell off the land to help fund the regeneration of the deprived area.

Revised plans submitted last month include fewer terraced homes, lower buildings by the heath, increased parking provision and a different access point onto Chetwode Road.

Christian Holliday, principal planning consultant at Alliance Planning, said they anticipate that these plans will go before the planning committee in the next few months.

Councillor Bob Harper, who represents Tattenhams on the borough council, said the first set of plans were not in keeping with the area and were sent back to the county council for revision.

Among suggested changes, he said they asked for the style and layout of buildings to be changed, for ponds to be removed and for access points to be moved.

Mr Harper said: "Even though it’s open space the land is not used for anything at the moment.

"There’s quite a lot of people penned up in rather old flats there and it might up open more choices there. It’s to hopefully bring the whole area up. It’s been left behind badly."

Work has already started on a multimillion pound leisure centre nearby and a developer has been given planning permission for 130 homes in Merland Rise.

The De Burgh School planning application was first received by Reigate and Banstead Council in 2013 and the site has not been used as a playing field since 1990.

Brian Yates, the deputy for Tadworth planning matters on Tadworth and Walton Residents’ Association, said he scrutinised the plans back in 2007 but his colleague now works on the matter.

Mr Yates said: "It’s been rolling through for about five or six years. I never felt I was against it because the land needed some form of development.

"There’s a lot of areas over there that are in need of uplifting. As long as it is designed sensibly then I would not be against it."

He said there have been issues over access and traffic movement on and off the site, but people "move or less" agree that housing should go there.

A county council spokesman said its plans are due to go before the planning committee this spring. 

He said: "Surrey County Council is reinvesting in facilities for the community and environmental improvements.

"This will feature a leisure centre that includes a 25-metre six-lane swimming pool, a 60-station gym and sports hall, space for community activities, and a youth skills centre."

The borough council said the county council has committed a £3.2million towards the regeneration of the Preston area. 

Justine Chatfield, a council project manager for the regeneration, said: “These plans will bring modern and attractive leisure and community facilities for the people of Preston, as well as surrounding areas. 

"The increase in the number of affordable and high quality homes and improved outdoor and recreational space, as well as parking, will benefit the local community greatly.”