More than 75 beds in new affordable housing could soon become available in Epsom and Ewell, but some councillors fear the challenge of meeting the housing need in the borough might be increasingly difficult.
Councillors of all political stripes celebrated as plans for affordable flats and houses in Hollymoor Lane, Epsom (pictured above) were submitted to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council on January 20.
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The planning application includes two five-bedroom houses, four four-bedroom houses, three three-bedroom houses and 21 two-bedroom flats to be built on a vacant estate.
But with about 150 Epsom and Ewell families currently designated as “homeless” or “at risk” of homelessness, and more than 60 homeless households currently in emergency interim accommodation outside the borough, some believe it will be increasingly difficult to home vulnerable people.
Residents' Association Councillors Neil Dallen and Jean Steer at the Hollymoor Lane site in Epsom
Chairman of the Residents’ Association group, Councillor Neil Dallen said the 77 beds of the Hollymoor Lane development was just the start of the fight against homelessness in the borough.
He said: “We have been trying to get something done for some years now, and I think we have had a good result.
“There is a demand for affordable housing that we will probably never meet, but we will do our best.
“We have a lot of good things going on, and hopefully during the next 12 months we will reap the benefits.”
The council’s housing stock was transferred to housing associations in 1994, but it is now pursuing regeneration plans by investing in empty flats in addition to the Hollymoor Lane development.
Some councillors feel the challenge to meet the need for affordable housing in the borough will require imaginative thinking and political will.
Labour Councillor Vince Romagnuolo (pictured above) said: “We are delighted that after so many years of trying, we finally have a planning application submitted for Hollymoor Lane – progress at long last.
“But now all of the old hospital sites have been developed, it’s going to become increasingly harder to keep pace with the need for affordable housing.
“We have lots of brownfield sites within the borough, but some imaginative thinking needs to take place.
“With imagination and political will, there is the possibility that the needs of the community can be met.”
A council spokesman said: “In the past six years the borough council with its partners, have been responsible for more than 80 new affordable homes per annum.
“Over the next three years we anticipate delivering almost 120 new affordable homes each year.”
To view the planning application for Hollymoor Lane, search for 15/01497/FUL on the council’s planning portal: http://eplanning.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/online-applications/
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