The authority made the proposal at a public meeting last night in a bid to build more than 2,000 homes. 

More than 100 people turned up at the town hall last night to protest the plans. 

The Draft Local Plan will be published tomorrow which is when a public consultation on the proposals will also be launched. 

Of the nine “preferred option” sites in the plan, five are green belt sites, on which it is proposed to build 2,175 houses which is over 41% of the total of 5,400 proposed up to 2040. 

Mole Valley voted to remove all Green Belt from its Local Plan, and Elmbridge avoided all Green Belt areas by focusing on smaller 1-5 house brownfield sites, none of which are listed in Epsom’s Local Plan. Campaigners had hoped that EEBC would follow suit. 

“We are furious that the RA controlled council did not fight to keep Epsom’s special character and Green Belt heritage, as is permitted under clear emerging government planning policy” said local resident Yufan Si, for the Keep Epsom and Ewell Green Belt “ There is no clear idea of where any of the much needed social infrastructure, will come from, from schools to doctors’ surgeries, as both councillors and planners admitted in the meeting”.

There was one spot of good news for the residents as the 110 acre Downs Farm on the Reigate Road was not included in the final list.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council statement: 

The Draft Local Plan has been developed through a robust and extensive evidenced-based approach. We believe it provides a framework for the borough to grow in a strong and positive way, so everyone will have the opportunity to live in an affordable, vibrant area with a growing economy. 

 Every borough is different, and our approach in developing our Draft Local Plan has been closely focused on our own borough’s needs, opportunities and constraints. These differ from other boroughs, and it is vital that we address critical issues in Epsom & Ewell such as the need for affordable housing. The Draft Local Plan will provide a significant number of affordable homes for current residents including local families and keyworkers, and it will protect the ability of our young people to afford homes in the future. Not only that; it will help us to meet the needs of residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 

 The Draft Local Plan takes a ‘brownfield first’ approach and seeks to make as much use as possible of existing suitable brownfield sites. However, these alone do not provide sufficient sites and therefore the Draft Plan does propose a small percentage of Green Belt release. This has not been an easy decision, but without following this course of action, we would not be doing enough to help meet the housing needs of local people now and in the future. 

 The Draft Local Plan is our starting point. The upcoming public consultation is critical in the development of the Local Plan and we urge those who live, work, visit or study in Epsom & Ewell to give their views. The consultation opens on Wednesday 1 February and will be accessible through our website at www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk, with hard copies also available in public libraries and the Town Hall.” - Councillor Steven McCormick, Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee.