About our proposals
Mole Valley is the fourth least affordable place to live in the UK. Over the past 15 years, just 18% of homes built in Mole Valley have been affordable. In the district, the average income is £37,641, while the average house price is 15x higher than the average salary at £561,070. From 2019 to 2021, just 32 affordable homes were built across Mole Valley as a whole.
In 2020 and 2021, Mole Valley District Council consulted extensively with the public and key stakeholders on their draft Local Plan 2020-2033. In preparing the consultation material, land north of Milton Court Lane was considered as a potential residential development site. It was concluded that the land which is currently classified as Green Belt was suitable for development, and so the site was included as a draft allocation for around 86 new homes.
The Council decided to pause the Local Plan process in December 2022 before a final Plan was produced or adopted, and activity has yet to re-start. With this delay and the Council’s recent request for a further pause of the Local Plan process, we decided to continue working up an Outline Planning Application broadly in accordance with the policies of the draft Local Plan.
Our plans are for around 86 beautifully designed net zero-carbon homes, in a range of sizes, including 40% affordable homes for people on the local housing register. Our proposal is about more than just high-quality homes. Alongside the housing, we want to create a place that encourages a connection with nature and wildlife, while enhancing a sense of community amongst residents – a great place to live.
Our public consultation on these proposals ran from 19 January until 16 February 2024. All feedback will be considered and taken into account when we submit our planning application in Spring 2024.
A net zero carbon development for Mole Valley
Key features
Around 86 new homes that are net zero carbon and energy efficient.
40% affordable homes, helping young people onto the property ladder, families to afford a better home and older people to downsize.
A high-quality open space and play area for new and existing residents.
New walking and cycle routes to promote sustainable transport options.
Protection of existing wildlife and at least 10% biodiversity net gain.
Electric charging points and Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels as standard.
Draft site layout
Designed with the local community’s needs in mind to create a positive legacy for Dorking, our plans include:
*Site layout is a draft and subject to change.
Sustainable homes, strong communities
We deliver sustainable, infrastructure-led communities and is an industry leader on biodiversity and the environment.
Efficient new homes
We lead the housebuilding industry in our approach to sustainability, saving residents money on bills while working hard to preserve the environment. All new homes will be net zero carbon in lifetime use, significantly reducing energy bills for consumers, while also tackling embodied carbon.
We use Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels alongside Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), which can both heat and cool the new homes. Our homes are designed to Passivhaus’ Space Heating standard, adopting a meticulous approach to design and construction methods to ensure minimal heat loss.
Further, we are developing solutions with major energy providers, to consider if homes can have guaranteed zero energy bills for a set period of time.
Boosting biodiversity
The construction of new homes presents a unique opportunity to integrate biodiversity-enhancing features that not only contribute to local ecosystems but also foster a harmonious relationship between humans and wildlife. As such, our carefully designed scheme will provide at least a 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG).
We’ll help nature flourish through carefully designed initiatives, considerate planting and other habitat features. This includes:
- Hedgehog highways, in fences providing freedom to roam gardens and natural foraging.
- Swift bricks, built directly into the walls to provide much-needed nesting spaces.
- Bat boxes, fitted to trees to help local ecosystems by controlling insect populations.
We have a great track record in bringing these initiatives to life, with our planning applications calculating on average 13.58% biodiversity net gain. At our Martingales development in Bookham, the Surrey Wildlife Trust’s ecology consultancy carried out an assessment predicting an impressive 41.38% biodiversity net gain.
Our Eddie & Ellie education outreach
We work with local primary schools through our well established ‘Eddie & Ellie the Ecologists’ initiative.
Born out of a genuine passion to equip local children with the knowledge and enjoyment of the nature and ecology around them, we carefully developed the fully funded programme in consultation with educational specialists to create a lasting impact.
Thanks to Eddie & Ellie, CIRIA awarded us the best Community Engagement Project as part of the Big Biodiversity Challenge awards
Sustainable travel
All homes will have a fast electric vehicle charging point, but we also provide incentives for cycle ownership amongst our residents and the potential for electric car clubs, enabling residents to have easy access to a car without owning one.
The plans include new walking and cycling routes.
About us
We are a Sussex-based developer employing over 250 people and several hundred additional local subcontractors throughout the south of England. We deliver sustainable, infrastructure-led communities and is an industry leader on biodiversity and the environment.
In 2022, we were confirmed as the ‘Best Construction & Engineering Company to Work For’ in the UK and have been recognised for our work with young people and veterans. Very recently, we were recognised in the prestigious ‘Best Places to Work 2023’ guide by The Sunday Times.
