Liberal Democrats believe that any development in the Green Belt should only be on sites that no longer meet the Green Belt criteria and where the development is supported by local residents.

The Draft Local Plan was originally put together by the previous Conservative administration that ran the District Council and it shows how the 6,735 homes required by the Government can be achieved through developing sites in the Green Belt.

We have amended the Draft Local Plan to promote the construction of more affordable housing and greater energy efficiency in the new homes that will be built but the risk of inappropriate development in the Green Belt remains.

The Draft Local Plan has now been published. It will be formally issued for consultation shortly and then residents can let the District Council know their views on its proposals, including potential development in the Green Belt, and help build the case that the numbers of houses to be built in Mole Valley must be reduced.