Where the thousands of new homes will be built in Surrey’s smallest borough

“Critical” details on nearly 5,000 homes across 35 sites in Epsom and Ewell have been laid out after the borough council submitted its planning masterplan.

The local plan will shape the future of the borough’s jobs, environmental protections, and leisure development – as well as allocating land for new homes and much-needed infrastructure improvements, the council said.

The single largest development will be in Horton Farm, between Horton Lane and Hook Road, where more than 1,250 homes are earmarked to be built alongside business spaces, a community building and park.

The plan will go before public examination by an independent inspector later this year for sign off.

Councillor Peter O’Donovan, chair of the licensing and planning policy committee, at Epsom and Ewell Council said “I am very grateful to officers who have worked diligently to reach this milestone, ensuring that the local plan is assessed against the framework to which it was developed.

“Overall, it has been a huge undertaking.”

The council has been set housing targets of about 4,700 homes with the local plan identifying a supply of 4,914.

He added: “I know that the plan will not please everyone.

“However, I believe it is a huge step forward for our borough and our communities, and if adopted it will help ensure that all Epsom and Ewell residents can enjoy the benefits that this strategic plan aims to deliver – whether their focus is on access to affordable homes, leisure facilities and green space, to jobs and economic growth.”

Included in the target are 456 homes that have already been built. Green belt land will be used to provide 1,580 homes.

The council says its planning bible will create “new vibrant communities” centred on currently underdeveloped transport hubs or development of larger sites.

It hopes these new developments will “form new communities and grow to be distinct places with their own identities.”

To support this, they will need to be “supported by appropriate investments in community and transport infrastructure to ensure existing and new residents are supported in terms of movement, health, education and other services.”

Epsom town centre will also be redeveloped to create improved retail space.

“It is important that the town centre continues to diversify and attract uses other than retail to the town centre to reflect the social and economic changes that have affected demand for retail and office space and investment.

“Developing the night-time economy is a key opportunity, with recent investment in a new cinema and the Playhouse Theatre”, the submitted plan read.

So far 35 sites have been allocated for redevelopment. Some, such as the 455 homes and a bespoke performing arts centre for the Laine Theatre Arts at the Southern Gas Network Site have already begun working through the planning system.

The 35 site allocations the council hopes will deliver a significant proportion of the Local Plan’s housing requirement.

Southern Gas Network Site Allocated for: Approximately 455 dwellings and a bespoke performing arts centre for the Laine Theatre Arts
Hook Road Car Park Allocated for: Approximately 150 dwellings
Solis House, 20 Hook Road Allocated for: Approximately 20 dwellings
Bunzl, Hook Road Allocated for: Approximately 20 dwellings
Epsom Town Hall Allocated for: Approximately 90 dwellings
Hope Lodge Car Park Allocated for: Approximately 30 dwellings
Former Police and Ambulance Station Sites Allocated for: Erection of a new 85 bedroom residential, nursing and dementia care home for the frail elderly
Epsom Clinic Allocated for: Approximately 30 dwellings
Depot Road and Upper High Street Car Park Allocated for: Approximately 100 dwellings and a decked public car park
79-85 East Street Allocated for: Approximately 35 dwellings
Finachem House, 2 – 4 Ashley Road Allocated for: Approximately 20 dwellings
Global House Allocated for: Approximately 75 dwellings
Swail House Allocated for: Refurbishment of Swail House for residential use and the provision of replacement purpose-built specialist accommodation for the RNIB consisting of approximately 45 dwellings (net) located to the rear of Swail House
60 East Street Allocated for: Approximately 30 dwellings
Corner of Kiln Lane and East Street (101b East Street) Allocated for: Approximately 5 dwellings
Land at Kiln Lane Allocated for: Approximately 40 dwellings
Hatch Furlong Nursery Allocated for: Approximately 30 dwellings
Land to the Rear of Rowe Hall Allocated for: Extra Care Accommodation comprising 96 self-contained apartments, staff and communal facilities
7 Station Approach Allocated for: Approximately 5 dwellings
Esso Express, 26 Reigate Road Allocated for: Approximately 10 dwellings
Richards Field Car Park Allocated for: Approximately 7 dwellings
Etwelle House, Station Road Allocated for: Approximately 20 dwellings
140-142 Ruxley Lane Allocated for: Approximately 12 dwellings
Garages at Somerset Close & Westmorland Close Allocated for: Approximately 6 dwellings
64 South Street Epsom Allocated for: Approximately 6 dwellings
35 Alexandra Road Allocated for: Approximately 8 dwellings
22-24 Dorking Road Allocated for: Approximately 18 dwellings
63 Dorking Road Allocated for: Specialist Care Home with ancillary nurses accommodation (equivalent to 6 dwellings)
65 London Road Allocated for: Care home up to 81 bedrooms
Epsom General Hospital Allocated for: Approximately 305 units older people’s accommodation (Use Class C2), 24 key worker dwellings and a children’s nursery
Land at West Park Hospital (South) Allocated for: Approximately 50 dwellings
Land at West Park Hospital (North) Allocated for: Approximately 150 dwellings
Land at Chantilly Way Allocated for: Approximately 30 dwellings
Hook Road Arena Allocated for: New Sports Hub for the borough to include playing pitches (grass and artificial), a new pavilion and changing facilities. The provision of approximately 100 dwellings on the eastern part of the site
Land at Horton Farm Allocated for: Approximately 1,250 dwellings including some specialist housing and self-build plots, 10 gypsy and traveller pitches, business incubation space, community building and a public park of approximately 7ha in addition to other green and blue infrastructure.