Elmbridge planners reject golf course housing scheme and Long Ditton flats against officer advice

• The Planning Committee refused outline permission for up to 206 homes on the former Moore Place Golf Course, Esher, overturning officers' recommendation on Green Belt and heritage grounds.
• A proposed flat development at 37 Lovelace Road, Long Ditton was also refused against officer advice due to poor design, loss of amenity to neighbours, and inadequate light to some units.
• Permission was granted for a development on the car park west of Waterloo Court, Hersham, subject to a legal agreement securing a £11,980.90 biodiversity net gain monitoring fee within six months.
• Planning permission was approved for 2–6 Palace View, Bridge Road, East Molesey, with conditions as set out in the agenda.
• Both the Moore Place Golf Course refusal and the Long Ditton refusal were made contrary to officers' recommendations; the Esher decision is subject to referral to the Secretary of State.

Elmbridge Borough Council's Planning Committee refused outline permission for up to 206 dwellings on the former Moore Place Golf Course in Esher at its meeting on 13 October 2026, overturning officers' recommendation to approve the scheme. A separate application for flats in Long Ditton was also refused against officer advice.

The committee concluded that the Moore Place site strongly performed against Purpose D of the Green Belt, meaning the proposal did not meet the Grey Belt exception introduced under the NPPF 2026. Members determined the development would therefore constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt and that no very special circumstances existed to outweigh the harm.

The committee cited five grounds for refusal. It found the proposal would fail to preserve the setting of Esher Historic town, with substantial weight given to harm to heritage assets. It also noted the absence of a completed legal agreement to secure affordable housing provision and open green spaces, contrary to the Golden Rules set out in NPPF 2026 Policy GB8. Further grounds included the lack of a legal agreement to secure a biodiversity net gain monitoring fee of £14,017.40, the absence of a secured SAMM contribution to protect the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area, and a failure to provide monetary contributions towards Public Rights of Way enhancements and Travel Plan auditing. The decision is subject to referral to the Secretary of State.

During the officer's introduction, a further condition had been proposed to cap the maximum number of units on the site at 206 residential dwellings. Four additional letters of representation and an amended plan had also been received prior to the meeting. The committee heard from an objector, Adam Crickmore, and the applicant, Oliver Taylor.

At the same meeting, the committee refused planning permission for a proposed development at 37 Lovelace Road and 1 Beechwood Close, Long Ditton, again contrary to officers' recommendation. Members concluded the four-storey scheme represented poor design due to its height, footprint, mass and detailing, and would be out of keeping with the surrounding character of the area. Concern was also raised about the quality of accommodation in some units, specifically inadequate light and outlook to habitable rooms in units G-01, 1-05 and 2-05. The committee additionally found the proposal would result in loss of amenity to neighbouring properties at 39 Lovelace Road and 3 Beechwood Close. A fourth ground of refusal cited the absence of a legal agreement to secure a biodiversity net gain monitoring contribution. The committee heard from objector Shweta Kapadia and agent Matt Richards.

In contrast, the committee granted permission for the car park west of Waterloo Court, Mayfield Road, Hersham. Officers confirmed the scheme could not reliably deliver affordable housing following an independent viability assessment that recognised costs associated with replacing the Maintenance Delivery Unit as abnormal. Permission was granted subject to completion of a legal agreement securing a biodiversity net gain monitoring fee of £11,980.90 within six months of the resolution, or a longer period as agreed by the Head of Planning and Environmental Health. Failure to complete the agreement within that timeframe would trigger a delegation to the Head of Planning and Environmental Health to refuse permission.

Planning permission was also granted for an application at 2–6 Palace View, Bridge Road, East Molesey, with conditions as outlined in the agenda. An officer report correction was noted, confirming no plant was proposed as part of the development. The committee heard from agent Daniel Botten.

The committee agreed the minutes of its previous meeting on 15 September 2026 as a correct record and noted the report of the South Area Planning Sub-Committee meeting held on 9 September 2026.