At a Planning Policy meeting at Tandrige District Council on Thursday, 1st March, councillors agreed a recommendation to Council that a policy statement be issued about the approach the District Council would be prepared to take to compulsory purchase the former Rose and Young garage site.

The privately owned site has remained unoccupied for many years and the Council, residents and businesses are unhappy with the run-down appearance of the land and building.

Despite discussions with the owner about potential redevelopment, no scheme has been submitted to the Council in recent years. The Council has taken expert legal advice about pursuing a compulsory purchase of the site, which must be justified as being in the public interest. The advice recommends the Council will either need to identify a developer which will carry out the redevelopment, or be able to show there are developers interested in the site. The greater the certainty of the development proceeding, the greater the likelihood of any compulsory purchase order being confirmed. The advice also suggests that if the Council can find a developer who specifically wants this site and has firm plans, the developer may be prepared to enter into a full indemnity agreement covering all the Council's costs.

This policy statement will be made available to any developer who approaches the Council and also to the owner so they are aware of the Council's determination to encourage the site to be brought back into use.

Councillor David Weightman, Chairman of the Planning Policy Committee said: "The Council is very keen to see the site redeveloped and we hope this policy statement will help attract developers willing to do this. Encouraging redevelopment of the former Rose and Young garage in Caterham is a long standing key corporate objective of the Council and this policy statement demonstrates we are committed to finding a long term solution."

Sally Marks, Surrey County Councillor for Caterham Valley, said: "It must be 20 years now that the site has been derelict. What a shame that this move didn't happen years ago. I would urge the District Council to be even more proactive in seeking a developer to take on this eyesore - it would be great if we really could get things moving at last!"