Jenrick turns down 318-home Sandown racecourse scheme

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has turned down controversial proposals to build a hotel and 318 homes on part of Sandown Park racecourse in the Surrey green belt.

Jenrick agreed with his planning inspector that the scheme, being promoted by the Jockey Club, which owns the course, was part of the green belt and that proposals for blocks of flats would cause “substantial harm”.

Under national planning policy, nearly all construction within the green belt is considered “inappropriate development” and “very special circumstances” are needed to justify building.

Jenrick said the benefits of the scheme in terms of providing housing and employment did not meet the “very special circumstances” test needed to outweigh the harm to the openness of the green belt.

This is despite the fact that the local authority does not have a five-year supply of land for housing, as required under national policy.

Jenrick’s decision also revealed that the local Conservative MP and foreign secretary Dominic Raab had lobbied Jenrick to turn down the scheme on behalf of a residents’ group, Save Esher Green Belt.

Jenrick’s decision said: “The secretary of state considers that the benefits of the scheme set out above would not clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt and the harm to the character and appearance of the area.

“He therefore concludes that the very special circumstances required to justify inappropriate development in the green belt do not exist”.

Phil White, London regional director at the Jockey Club, said he was disappointed by the decision but respected it and planned to review the secretary of state’s comments in detail.

He said: “We truly believe that the scheme would have brought many benefits to the local community and local economy as well as enabling us to undertake essential investment at Sandown Park which, even before the covid-19 pandemic, would have been impossible without the facilitating development included in this proposal.

“It would also have provided much needed housing in Elmbridge, including more than 60 affordable homes.

“Sandown Park plays an important role in racing, in the local economy and the local community. We will continue to explore ways to preserve and enhance the contributions that it makes.”