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 15 times higher at £561,070. From 2019 to 2021, just 32 affordable homes were built across Mole Valley, and zero in 2022. Meanwhile, the local waiting list for an affordable home reached 670 households.
Our proposals are for around 200 new homes, including 40% affordable homes for people on the local housing register. Our plans include a mixture of styles and size homes to help people move onto, and up the housing ladder, and for older people to downsize. Land North-West of Preston Farm has received a draft allocation from Mole Valley District Council as an appropriate location for new homes and community facilities.
We publicly consulted on our proposals from 18 November to 15 December 2023, and submitted for review by Mole Valley District Council (application MO/2024/0096) in January 2024.
Our plans received a resolution to grant outline planning permission on 5 February 2025 from Mole Valley District Council’s Planning Committee.
Designed with the local community’s needs in mind to create a positive legacy for Bookham.
Around 200 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 brand-new community facility, flexible to a range of uses including for potential medical use/
A high-quality children’s play area, including natural play and sensory elements.
A country park with access to the lakes and new pathways for all of the community to enjoy.
Three traveller pitches in line with local planning policy requirements.
Protection of existing wildlife and at least 10% biodiversity net gain.
Car parking provision, including EV charging points as standard.
We’re leading the way nationally on the delivery of net zero carbon homes. Our proposals look to deliver an exemplar sustainable scheme, with sustainability at its heart.
Reducing the carbon emission beyond the requirements of Building Regulations is a key part of our design for this development and all Building Regulation measured CO2 emissions for all dwellings will be reduced to Net Zero.
This will be aided by Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP’s) and photovoltaic (PV) in-roof/flush mounted solar panels.
We deliver infrastructure early in the construction programme. This means that existing Bookham residents can take advantage of the new community facilities we provide from the earliest stage, and new residents will have access to them soon after they move in.
An example of this is at Pease Pottage, where we delivered £7m of offsite highways works before residents moved in, and a £4.1m Primary School early in the delivery of the site.
A new community space or health care facility will be created at the heart of the new neighbourhood. We will work with the existing community to make sure the building is an asset for everyone to benefit from and which meets local needs.
We will also create a schools programme which promotes pathways to careers in planning and development for local schools and colleges.
We believe that developments should provide accessible natural areas close to people’s homes, designed to complement the wider local landscape and linking up large, nature-rich open spaces with a network of green and blue corridors.
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.
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.
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.
Established in 2003 and based in West Sussex, we deliver sustainable homes and strong communities, providing private residential developments, high-quality, tenure-blind affordable homes and open spaces to infrastructure, facilities and strategic land services.
Our industry-leading approach to zero carbon ready homes, biodiversity and the environment, alongside our commitment to people, communities, and creating amazing places to live, put us at the forefront of placemaking in the UK.
"Even the solar panels clean themselves when it rains. No matter what happens with energy prices, we know what to expect."
Steve & Sarah
Templegate Zero Bills residents
“We initially looked at other period properties, but we felt a newbuild home would be right for us. We didn’t want the hassle of all the general maintenance of an older house, such as old boilers, changing electrics and sash windows. A new build gave us a clean slate.”
Richard & Sue
Berry Croft residents
“I’m a people person, and Woodgate has such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I remember the first time I came here. I came for a coffee with a friend and we sat in the café overlooking the big village green. I thought to myself that I’d like to live here.”
Jenny
Woodgate resident
"We lived there for thirty-four years and raised our three children in that home, but it was creaking at the seams! We didn’t feel we could leave the house for any length of time without fear of something going wrong, such as a pipe bursting or the roof leaking. We chose a new build home for peace of mind."
Jonathan & Sara
Manorwood residents
"After sending a friend to check it out for us, we were mesmerised. He called us from his car and said, ‘You need to live here, I’ve never seen a place like this."
Jai & Norbi
Woodgate residents
"I love the design, the layout, the wide roads with the houses nicely set back. It’s spread out and already has a nice community feel. With the park next door and a new Village Green, this is our long-term, hopefully forever home. And that was all before we stepped inside!”
Abbi & James
Woodgate residents