Epsom and Ewell Council is seeking the advice from residents on how the borough should be developed over the next 15 years.

They have updated their Local Plan and have stressed the importance of building new homes.

Four options have been designed by the council who say that there is space for 3,000 new houses.

The Government has said 579 new homes are needed per year but Epsom and Ewell Council say they don't have sufficient land to build that many in the next 15 years.

Their 2007 Local Plan is no longer up to date because of changes to the national planning policy.

Option One – ‘Urban Intensification’

The first option aims to urbanise Epsom and Ewell to build tall buildings of at least six storeys high.

Places of work would be sacrificed for housing with industrial estates being redeveloped and office spaces being converted to flats.

Garden sizes and parking standards would need to be reduced to create the room for extra housing.

The council believes Option One would result in the continued development of the urban area and the governments housing requirements would be met.

However, it warned that few buildings are suitable for tall flat blocks, urban areas would lose green space and homes may be “contrived and substandard”.

Option Two – ‘Release some Green Belt land for new homes’

This plan would mean a review of Epsom and Ewell’s Green Belt to find areas for suitable homes.

The council says this would protect the character of the urban area and green spaces.

Epsom Common and Horton Park Nature Reserve would be protected. There would also be space for services like new schools to support the homes.

The “very high” cost of delivering the houses and the loss of some Green Belt are two concerns outlined by the council for Option Two.

Option Three – ‘Significant Green Belt release to meet all our housing need and more’

This proposal would “extensively amend” the Green Belt land to meet the "large majority" of the new homes needed.

The advantages are similar to Option Two with the limitations being the “significant loss” of Green Belt land which could mean the boundary no longer serving its purpose.

Costing would be “likely too expensive to build,” according to the council who added the character to Epsom and Ewell could be irreversibly changed.

Option Four – ‘Finding the balance’

Building on previously developed sites over the next five years would continue, increase building heights on accessible locations and protecting employment land, parks and play pitches would be ensured in Option Four.

A review of the Green Belt to find areas for housing would be recommended. The council say the important parts of the Green Belt would be protected.

Similar to Options Two and Three the urban character would be unharmed, schools and affordable homes could be delivered.

The council added that not all housing needs would be met through this option.

You can have your say on the Epsom and Ewell Local Plan up until November 6 2017 here https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=150599471039