‘Garden grabbers are turning our street into Surrey’s cul-de-sac capital‘
By Jenny Seymour jenny.seymour@essnmedia.co.uk
That’s a view expressed by some Epsom Downs residents who say they are under siege from developers and the area’s infrastructure cannot cope with more homes built where lawns now lie.
Gardens backing onto the area’s comfortable detached properties can measure up to 200 feet.
The latest plans for Reigate Road were due to come before Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s planning committee last night (Wednesday). Planning officers had recommended granting permission for the demolition of number 351, with 10 homes built on surrounding gardens, but refusing a similar application for 11 homes.
The plans elicited 39 letters of objection, including one from MP Chris Grayling.
Reigate Road resident Paul Cannon, 39, said the area had reached “saturation point”.
“It is just packing people in like sardines – everybody’s on top of each other.
“This whole area was designed in the 20s and 30s so people could have a bit of space, greenery and privacy.