Tandridge District Council's public consultation on planning policy, which ends on 11th March, includes an assessment as to which villages and settlements within the district should continue as Green Belt Settlements. The subject of the Green Belt raises differing opinions on Green Belt development policy within the Tandridge district.

The Council's Core Strategy adopted in 2008 requires the Council to deliver 2,500 homes between 2006 and 2026 and indicates that this will happen by the use of land within the built up areas of the district. Green Belt land will only be released if insufficient land can be found in built up areas. An assessment of what land might be available over the next 15 years is due to be considered by the Council's Planning Policy Committee on 3rd March. A spokesperson for the Council said that they anticipate there will be more than enough homes delivered to meet the requirement of 2,500 without the need to release Green Belt land. The Council, however, is not so optimistic about meeting targets for affordable homes. The Council has 1,661 households on the waiting list but predict they cannot deliver more than 300 units over the next 15 years. The Core Strategy noted that: "...in common with most other councils in the South East, this requirement cannot be met in full."

The Core Strategy does not provide for the release of green field Green Belt land to meet this aim.

Commenting on the situation, John Orrick, Surrey County Councillor for Caterham-onthe- Hill, said: "I think it is time to have a sensible, grown up debate about it. I personally think that it is the areas of Green Belt within the built up areas that are the most important to preserve in order to protect the character of the area that we have. I think you can certainly look at expanding some of the hamlets without harming anything. You could have three or four new properties added to a hamlet without it spoiling the countryside. What we don't want is more new housing developments like in Stanstead Road in Caterham. Big old houses are being knocked down and replaced with five or six new ones which spoils the whole character of the road."

Local property developer, Nigel Greenhalgh of Village Developments believes that releasing a tiny proportion of Green Belt green field land is the only solution. He said: "Tandridge is 94% Green Belt and we are running out of brown belt land. We only need to release 1% of Green Belt land in Tandridge to solve the housing problem. The principle function of the Green Belt policy was to prevent coalescence - the merging together of towns. "Adding a few new houses to existing hamlets and building on sites within built-up areas will go nowhere near meeting housing requirements. We are in the middle of a national housing crisis. People's perceptions need to change because the way we are heading things will be like Victorian times again, with thousands of young people living with their parents with no chance of getting married and having a family in a home of their own. The problem is that if you mention the Green Belt there is a phobia about it. The councillors have to be proactive about dealing with housing needs."

In conclusion, John Orrick said: "The situation requires huge sensitivity on the part of developers and the planners and society has to compromise."

Residents have until 11th March to make their views known to Tandridge District Council on planning policies, including the future of villages that are currently designated Green Belt Settlements. The consultation documents can be viewed at www.tandridge.gov.uk/Planning/ PlanningPolicy/planningpolicyconsultations. htm.

Copies of the documents are also available for inspection at the Council Offices in Oxted as well as at Caterham Valley and Oxted Libraries.

Do you have an opinion on how to meet affordable housing needs in Tandridge? Please send your views to The Caterham and District Independent, 33 High Street, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5UE, e-mail: editor@caterham-independent. co.uk.