We have engaged the services of Kona Planning to provide local residents with some guidance in respect of key areas for raising objection to the above planning application.

Please note that this application provides only indicative information. However, this is a key opportunity to raise your objections and concerns to the Local Planning Authority in respect of the redevelopment of this site.

Below are a number of suggested reasons that residents may wish to consider as part of individual objection letters:


1. Up until 2019 this site was a well-used 9-hole golf course and there was no significant justification relating to the closure of this course. This is a significant loss of recreational facilities in the area.


2. The application site is entirely located within the Green Belt which prohibits development unless there are exceptional circumstances. As part of the Draft Local Plan (which has been held up due to the planned council reorganisation), this parcel of land was set aside by councillors as a ‘Local Green Space’. If approved this would have retained this valuable area of Green Belt land from any future development.


3. The developer claims this site should be defined as ‘Grey Belt’ under the latest National Planning Policy Framework brought in by the current government. However, it fails to meet all of the ‘Golden Rules’ (namely b and c) as laid out in respect of ‘Grey Belt’ status. These are identified within paragraph 156 of the NPPF (see below).​

• affordable housing which reflects either: (i) development plan policies produced in accordance with paragraphs 67-68 of this Framework; or (ii) until such policies are in place, the policy set out in paragraph 157 below;
• necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure; and
• the provision of new, or improvements to existing, green spaces that are accessible to the public. New residents should be able to access good quality green spaces within a short walk of their home, whether through onsite provision or through access to offsite spaces.


4. This development would have a negative impact upon the adjoining Esher Conservation Area and the nearby heritage assets. The Esher Conservation Area Character Appraisal document specifically highlights ‘The high-quality 1925-35 suburban development of Clive Road.’ A portion of the Clive Road directly abuts the proposed application site and as such, the quantum of the development that is proposed will harm the setting of the Conservation Area. The key historic building is The Lodge, which is a Grade II listed building. Within a recent Appeal Decision in respect of 1-5 Hillside, Portsmouth Road (2023/3173), the Planning Inspector describes the historic nature of Esher.


5. The nature of the proposed development in its style and density would change the character of the area and cause a permanent loss of valuable countryside in an area adjoining the historic town of Esher and its protected Conservation Area. As an example, this site is a third of the size of the Hersham Golf Club proposal for a similar number of dwellings (planning application 2023/3519)


6. Consequently the proposal will result in a 33% loss in biodiversity to this parcel of land which is currently a green open space.


7. The site currently has an abundance of wildlife including families of badgers, several colonies of bats, the occasional roe deer and a large variety of birds.


8. The site benefits from a significant botanical interest with its long history of landscaping dating back over the last 300 years.


9. The site has a blanket Tree Preservation Order (EL:19/58). This covers all tree regardless of species.


10. Planning permission was previously granted on this site for 14 tennis courts and retained the golf course. Works were undertaken to create the car park and the new golf clubhouse, as such this permission appears to have been commenced. The submitted application does not refer to these works.


11. Impact on local facilities, namely, schools, medical facilities and parking at Esher railway station (circa 30-minute walk from the site).

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12. Impact of access and pollution of 300+ cars plus delivery vans onto Portsmouth Road, the only access point, and the corresponding effect on traffic in Esher High Street particularly at peak times.


13. The indicative plans do not imply that there will be any significant contributions to local infrastructure, such as, but not exclusively to, GP or medical centre or highway improvements.


14. Potential flooding and drainage issues on the site have given rise to an objection from Surrey County Council.


15. Two huge aviation fuel pipelines run across the site and although mentioned in the submission, this matter has not been dealt with to the satisfaction of the owners / operators of the pipeline.