A SURREY MP has hit out over proposals to build 140 houses on green belt land in Oxted.
Conservative MP Sam Gyimah spoke to the Mirror after residents voiced fears that a developer was drawing up plans for housing on land off Chichele Road.
"The green belt is a wonderful asset and, alongside Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it's essential that we maintain these protections for our magnificent countryside," said Mr Gyimah.
"Development on green belt land in Tandridge is completely unnecessary as Tandridge District Council have allocated enough land to meet its housing needs, including affordable housing.
"Of course, housing numbers must be constantly reviewed and we need to bear in mind the need for affordable housing in an area as expensive as Tandridge.
"But planning by appeal is not the way forward.
"We need a properly planned process of development that is led by the community and protects the environment."
The proposal is to build on the land that lies between St Mary's School and The Larks nursery school.
Oxted and Limpsfield Residents' Group chairman Catherine Sayer said the group agreed with everything Mr Gyimah said, adding: "It is simply not necessary to concrete over the green belt here."
No planning application has been submitted to Tandridge District Council yet.
But Nigel Greenhalgh, the managing director of Village Developments, speaking on behalf of the land owners Oxted Residential, said: "We understand the sensitivity towards development in the Green Belt, but this particular site does not contribute to coalescence the principle aim of the Green Belt.
"As maybe you are aware, the inspector at Reigate and Banstead and a number of other councils are all having to release land from the green belt to meet their housing needs."
The news comes after Surrey County Council unanimously resolved to use its power to protect the green belt and stated any development in the county should be "in line with the needs and wishes" of residents.
