Downs farm is the 110-acre open land on either side of College Road between Epsom and Nork. Council’s own studies concluded that Downs Farm meets the requirements for land to be retained as Green Belt – it serves to separate the eastern part of Epsom from the Drift Bridge area of Reigate and Banstead. It has the rare calcareous grassland habitats and is also home to many wildlife, such as 20+ species of birds(including skylarks, red kites, owls, woodpeckers), deer, bats, hedgehogs, and many more.

However, this beautiful Green Belt is in imminent danger of being developed into hundreds of houses, in the upcoming draft Local Plan to be published on 1st February 2023.

Please urgently write to EEBC Councilors and Planning Officers to help stopping this, contact details listed below.

Why Downs Farm cannot be released from Green Belt?
1. EEBC’s Green Belt study concluded “due to its landscape and visual sensitivity, and high sensitivity to development, it is not suitable for release”. Developing a perfectly green and beautiful land will set the precedent of horrendously ripping up Epsom’s Green Belt, destroying biodiversity and green space that is crucially needed right now, and changing Epsom into another over-developed urban town forever.

2. The area is out-of-town and very poorly served by public transport, so development on Downs Farm will, inevitably, put hundreds more cars and other vehicles on to our already overcrowded and polluted roads.

3. Downs Farm area has one of the most over-subscribed schools, dentists, GPs within Epsom. Surrey County Council has no plan to build more schools, so mass developing without infrastructure and service support is very short-sighted and is disastrous for local people.

4. Downs Farm is close to a SSSI and has High Green Conservation Area and listed buildings onsite, therefore it will limit the type of houses can be built on, which won’t help with the affordable housing issues.

What can Council do instead?
1. The unrealistic and outdated housing target pushed down by Central government can be successfully challenged. Council should adopt its own target based on evidence based analysis.
2. Epsom & Ewell need affordable homes in central easily accessible locations with superb transport links. There are alternative brownfield plans which offer more affordable homes, together with town rejuvenation and employment opportunities.

So please take action:
Write to Epsom & Ewell Planning and Policy Committee (https://democracy.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?ID=131), Cllr Steve McCormick(Chair of the Planning Committee smccormick@epsom-ewell.gov.uk), Victoria Potts (Chief Planning officer: vpotts@epsom-ewell.gov.uk, lplan@epsom-ewell.gov.uk)

Sign the Petition via this link: https://www.change.org/EpsomGreenBelt

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