DEVELOPERS have submitted plans to build on an area which has been branded as notorious for antisocial behaviour.
The Tandridge District Council-owned site in Ockleys Mead could have seven new homes built on it by Pdp Architecture LLP, working with Raven Housing Trust. But residents have taken issue with the plans on the grounds of noise, access and overdevelopment.
At the moment the site is half occupied by garages and the rest is covered by hard-standing.
Godstone Village Association chairman Felicity Gresser said: "My immediate reaction was that it is an extremely dull group of buildings and it is probably over-developed for the site.
"I think the buildings are too high and there are too many of them."
The plans propose two blocks of houses, with four three-bedroom houses and three two-bedroom houses. Thirty car parking spaces will be built, with 15 available for other Godstone residents to use.
The design statement says: "The garage site is run down and is mainly used as a shortcut from Selbourne Square to Ockleys Mead. Due to the nature of the site it has become a notorious area for antisocial behaviour."
Concerned residents have been expressing their views online – and not all agree with the allegations of bad behaviour.
Alan Johnson, of Selbourne Square, said: "Contrary to claims the area is not subject to any exceptional vandalism nor is it frequented by troublemakers. The addition of 30 parking spaces will dramatically increase pollution, noise, traffic and risk of injury."
Paul Knutsen, of Ockleys Mead, said: "Just because this area is labelled as a 'council estate' it does not mean you can dump development after development here with no thought for residents."
Developers said: "Our client has been conscious of the knock-on effect to residents with regards the loss of the current garage site in terms of parking and has requested that we provide as many car parking spaces as possible for general use."
The application is due to go before the planning committee by June.