South Godstone North of the Railway Line to Deliver These Proposals

South Godstone, North of the Railway Line � Introduction The Technical Paper entitled ‘The Objectively Assessed Housing Needs of Tandridge’, commissioned by Tandridge District Council in September 2015, concludes that a new Local Plan for the District should deliver 9,400 additional dwellings and employment land between 2013 and 2033. In order to meet these requirements, the District Council has committed to review Green Belt boundaries and as a result, has proposed an Expanded Settlement at South Godstone or Blindley Heath. Promoters have since put forward alternative proposals at the former Redhill Aerodrome, straddling the boundary between Tandridge District and Reigate & Banstead Borough; and on land west of Edenbridge, straddling the boundary between Tandridge District and Sevenoaks District. This presentation shows how an Expanded Settlement at South Godstone, on land north of the railway line, would deliver new housing and employment opportunities, retail and community facilities, new primary and secondary education provision, upgrades and enhancements to existing roads and public transport infrastructure, and a comprehensive network of landscape and green infrastructure, contained by new Green Belt boundaries that would endure beyond the Local Plan period. Concept Masterplan � Although subject to further review and refinement, the concept masterplan shows how an Expanded Settlement at South Godstone would deliver 4000 dwellings, employment opportunities, two new primary schools and a secondary school, local retail facilities, a neighbourhood centre to include a community building and library, health centre and pharmacy and dentists’ surgery, and associated landscaping, open spaces and green infrastructure. Facilities at the new neighbourhood centre will be at the heart of the proposal and easily accessible to existing residents. The proposal will incorporate a number of character areas: higher density development would be focused around the neighbourhood centre straddling the A22 through the village, out from which densities would reduce to a soft green interface with the wider countryside and new Green Belt boundaries. The proposal will create safe, walkable neighbourhoods linked by a network of green infrastructure and landscaping, with priority given to walking and cycling and access to public transport: a healthy and fully inclusive, low carbon community. Capacity Study Proposed site area: 156.7 hectares (387.2 acres), delivering as follows: = 4000 dwellings, to include 40% affordable housing, starter homes, homes for key = 2 Form Entry primary school with reserve land to extend - 3 hectares workers and self-build plots - 114.3 hectares = 6 Form Entry secondary school – 5 hectares = Open space provision (2.4 hectares/1,000 population) - 23.04 hectares = Medical centre to include doctors and dentists surgeries, pharmacy and associated = Infrastructure, such as the main highway routes through the development and new parking – 0.3 hectares junctions with the A22; a village square; and drainage attenuation basins, a new wastewater treatment works and electricity substations – 3 hectares = Community building, parish office and library and associated parking and garden – 0.3 hectares = Foodstore (2100m2 net sales space) with employment space/apartments above and associated delivery yard and associated parking – 2 hectares = Class B1 light industrial and/or office employment space – 4.5 hectares = 8 additional retail units (total 800m2) with employment space above and associated = Public house/family restaurant – 0.4 hectares parking – 0.15 hectares = 60-80 bed retirement/care home facility – 0.25 hectares Opportunity and Vision Landscape Framework Drainage and Utilities The creation of a social, employment and community To deliver a comprehensive network of landscaping and Current studies indicate that the proposal will utilise existing hub virtually at the District’s geographical centre, green infrastructure as part of the proposal, three key watercourses and water bodies for surface water swales, providing up to 4000 open market and affordable homes strategies will be employed. drainage basins and other Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS) to meet local needs within an attractive, safe and secure Firstly, an Ecological Strategy will foster bio-diversity and features. environment. habitat creation, delivering a web of new landscape knitted As it is unlikely that the existing local foul drainage network has The provision of a range of employment and social and into the fabric of the proposal. the capacity to service the proposal, we are discussing with community facilities, which will be accessible to all and Secondly, a Social Well-being Strategy will give new and Southern Water and the Environment Agency how to fund which will contribute to the social, economic and existing residents easy access to green spaces, footpaths, improvements to the existing Lingfield and/or Godstone waste environmental sustainability of South Godstone. cycle ways, and landscape features, alongside a Green water treatments works to the south east and north of South The delivery of significant improvements to South Travel Plan to promote alternatives to the car. Godstone and/or how to fund the delivery of a new waste water treatment works as part of an Expanded Settlement at South Godstone’s roads and public transport infrastructure. Thirdly, a Visual Co-ordination Strategy will deliver a Godstone. development of character and cohesion, aligned with South Godstone’s visual and landscape setting We are also investigating reported incidences of flooding on the A22 to the north of South Godstone, with a view to facilitating local improvements to highways drainage as required. South Godstone, North of the Railway Line � Transport South Godstone railway station is located on the southern edge of the village and provides direct rail services to London Bridge (circa 46 minutes) and London Victoria (circa one hour); and to Tonbridge and Redhill. Bus services 409, 486 and 487 are accessed from bus stops situated along the A22 which runs centrally through the village, serving a range of destinations including Blindley Heath, Caterham, Chelsham, Godstone High Street, Oxted and Warlingham. We are in discussions with Highways England, Surrey County Council, Network Rail, Southern Rail and Southdown PSV (the local bus operator), aimed at agreeing how the proposal would deliver comprehensive upgrades and enhancements to South Godstone’s roads and public transport infrastructure. Subject to further discussions, these will include the following: Road Safety and Capacity Improvements = Capacity improvements to Junction 6 of the M25, which could include modifications to signals, carriageway improvements and flaring of junctions to accommodate additional lanes. = Capacity improvements to the A22, between A25 and B2236, which could include dualling the existing single carriageway, or making better use of the existing highway margins to create a third lane, with smart usage to maximise peak time capacity. = Capacity improvements at the A22/A264 Felbridge junction, building on measures recently installed by Surrey County Council. = Improvements to the A22 through South Godstone, particularly where it passes beneath the railway line: new pedestrian/cycle underpasses will enable the existing bridge width to be maximised for vehicular capacity and segregate pedestrians and cyclists from road users. = A review of key junctions along the A22 corridor, to deliver improvements and capacity enhancements where required/appropriate: the A22/A25 Oxted Road roundabout; the A22 Harts Lane/Miles Lane staggered crossroads; the A22/Tilburstow Hill Road junction; the A22/West Park Road/Newchapel Road roundabout; and the traffic signals at the A264 Copthorne Road junction. = A review of key road corridors in the locality, to deliver safety improvements and mitigation measures, where appropriate: the A22 through South Godstone and Blindley Heath; Byers Lane/Whitewood Lane; and the B2028 West Park Road. Sustainable Transport Initiatives = Major improvements to South Godstone railway station, to include a café, waiting facilities, ticket hall and toilets, improvements for disabled access and real-time travel information; provision of a cycle hub to include secure cycle parking, bike hire and cycle repair facilities; additional and better quality car parking; and, subject to further consultation with Network Rail and Southern Rail, lengthened platforms to increase rail capacity. = Improvements to bus transport, to make regular and frequent services available 7 days a week; linking bus stops/services into South Godstone railway station, to create a passenger transport hub; and provision of high quality bus shelters, seating, real-time travel information, raised kerbs and suchlike. = Improving pedestrian and cycle connectivity north and south of the railway, by providing pedestrian/cycle underpasses. = Providing high quality pedestrian and cycle links between the existing village, the proposal and South Godstone rail station, using where possible the existing public rights of way network and perhaps upgrading public footpaths to cycleways/bridleways. = Environmental improvements to the A22 through South Godstone, to include new pedestrian crossing facilities and cycle routes. The proposal will therefore be underpinned by a Transport Strategy that will maximise the opportunities for sustainable travel; minimise the need to travel beyond South Godstone, provide safe and suitable access for existing

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