On Tuesday March 13th London and Quadrant Housing Trust lost the appeal hearing into Tandridge District Council's refusal to give planning permission for their proposed development in Caterham. The Planning Inspector agreed that the proposal to build 40 flats and 13 houses on the Adult Education Centre and Social Services site in Croydon Road would be 'overdevelopment'.

Councillor Jane Ingham said: "I am absolutely delighted at the decision. In his conclusions the Inspector was emphatic that '…the proposal is too ambitious and represents overdevelopment of a sensitive site.' Local residents knew this from their own experience of living and working in the area. This site needs to be developed with homes that people really want to live in.

"It was marvellous that so many residents joined me and other councillors at the hearing and we all had the opportunity to explain the problems that such high-density living would cause. Caterham has for too long been seen by developers as an area into which they can squeeze more and more flats. The Inspector listened to us and has agreed that this sort of overdevelopment has to stop."