Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) has refused planning application MO/2021/1472, for the Change of use from Use Class F1 (education) to F2 (outdoor recreation) for the provision of public open space on land south of Lower Road, Great Bookham, Leatherhead, including areas of planting, a feature pond, community orchard and outdoor recreation.
These are the Howard of Effingham playing fields, located in Little Bookham (north of the church). Berkeley Homes had submitted the planning application for the change of use, to take effect when the new school is built across the road.
Reasons for rejecting the planning application were inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and loss of the playing fields and the replacement with community use would not provide satisfactory mitigation for that loss and no alternative provision is offered.
Leatherhead Living has further details here