Elmbridge says it has little or no prospect of defending its refusal of 144 Taylor Wimpey homes in Long Ditton. The public inquiry is set for January 2027.
Elmbridge Borough Council says it now has “little or no prospect” of defending its refusal of up to 144 homes on land west of Woodstock Lane North in Long Ditton. Taylor Wimpey is appealing against that refusal, and a public inquiry is scheduled for January 2027.
The council set out its changed position in a statement published on 22 October. It said it had taken independent advice from legal counsel and a specialist planning consultant. That advice also warned of “a significant risk that the council could face substantial costs” if it kept making arguments that national policy and recent appeal decisions may no longer support.
The Planning Inspectorate will now decide the appeal. The council says that does not mean it supports the scheme.
What was refused, and why
The application, reference 2025/2018, is for outline permission. Only the access from Woodstock Lane North would be fixed now. The officer report to the planning committee describes:
- an 11.02 hectare site in the Green Belt
- a working horticultural nursery, rough grassland and scrub, with part of the western end on One Tree Hill, a registered village green
- up to 144 homes, with open space, play areas, drainage and a pumping station
- 50% affordable housing, to be secured by a legal agreement
- 835 letters of objection and 11 of support at the time the report was written
Officers recommended approval. Councillors refused it on 25 March 2026, against that advice. The minutes record 218 further objection letters reported on the night, and three reasons for refusal:
- the land is not “grey belt”, because the site is not in a sustainable location and keeps Long Ditton apart from Hook, Kingston and Hinchley Wood, so the homes would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- lighting, fencing and building next to the village green, and wider footpaths along Woodstock Lane North, would harm the area’s rural character
- there was no signed legal agreement for the affordable homes, play areas and payments towards the NHS, police, green spaces, buses and bridleway 25
Taylor Wimpey lodged its appeal on 31 July 2026, the council’s planning register shows.
Why the council has changed its position
The statement says national planning policy has changed significantly since the refusal, and that several appeal decisions elsewhere in the country have gone against councils in similar cases. It says cost was not the only factor.
The officer report gives part of the background. Elmbridge can show only about one year’s supply of land for new homes, against the five years national policy requires. It relied on the council’s December 2025 position statement, which put the annual requirement at 1,901 homes including a 20% buffer. When a council is that far short, national policy tilts decisions towards granting permission.
The same pressure sits behind other big Green Belt cases in the borough. On 13 October councillors also went against officers to refuse up to 206 homes at Moore Place in Esher.
What it means for you
- You can no longer comment. The council says the deadline for public comments to the Planning Inspectorate has passed.
- Earlier comments still count. Everything sent in during the application and the appeal stays on file for the inspector.
- The inquiry is in January 2027. The council says it will publish the details on its website once they are known. We will add them here.
- The decision is the inspector’s. It will be made on planning policy and evidence, not on the number of objections.
You can follow other cases on our Elmbridge planning applications page.
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