Click here to see map for location of South Hatch Stables.

18/00308/FUL Demolition of the existing Racehorse Training Establishment (RTE) and the erection of a new RTE comprising of a main yard stable complex of 40 boxes, a secondary stable block of 20 boxes, an isolation yard, a trainer and assistant trainers house, stable staff accommodation, horse walkers, muck pits, a therapy barn, trotting ring and outdoor school, a lunge ring, turnout paddocks and a machinery store and storage barn and enabling residential development comprising 47 apartments.

While the Society seeks to support the development of racing industry activity within Epsom, this application proposes a much larger establishment than at present, in a high-performing Green Belt location, financed by enabling housing development. It would transform what is currently largely open space to a substantial mixed use development.

The Society opposes in principle any enabling development of residential property in the Green Belt.

For these reasons we have recommended refusal. Furthermore we have suggested that, should permission nevertheless be granted, conditions should be imposed restricting the occupation of the staff accommodation to people employed in the racing industry and requiring that the RTE should be erected before any housing units, to avoid them being offered in the open market if the RTE did not proceed.

See our letter here.