A Dubai-based international real estate agency has sold scores of plots of greenbelt land despite accusations that it has misled buyers about their development potential.

Kings Land has been advertising exclusive plots in the "Epsom Hills", off Downsway Close, Epsom Downs - 100m away from Epsom Downs Racecourse.

On its website, it highlights the main advantages of where the 155 plots, spanning 13.5 acres, are located - including the land being within the London commuter belt and immediately adjacent to a "high value residential housing development".

The Epsom Guardian was contacted back in March by a number of residents who said they were astounded to see the land for sale because they said it lies within the Metropolitan greenbelt and has no realistic chance of acquiring planning permission in the future.

After making several attempts at getting in touch with Kings Land, a spokeswoman recently provided the newspaper with information about the plots.

It showed the majority of the plots in the Epsom Hills, ranging from 74sqm to 585sqm have now been sold, while a few have been reserved, booked or are being resold. 

All of the plots have been marketed as "residential" and their prices are available upon request from the company - something the Epsom Guardian has asked for. 

In March, Kelvin Hilton, development manager at Reigate and Banstead Council, said the land was being advertised with false claims of having development or investment potential because it was "very unlikely to be granted planning permission by the council".

He said the council had served an Article 4 direction on the site when it became aware of how it was being marketed by Kings Land. 

This direction aimed to maintain the openness of the land by stopping it being fenced off into plots.

Mr Hilton said Trading Standards had also been made aware of the claims being made in Kings Land’s advertising material.

Commenting on the majority of the plots now being sold, he said: "We have previously warned the public about this sort of sale of property but we cannot stop land being bought or sold.

"Buyers purchase property at their own risk.

"Any building works on this land would require planning permission and the council has served a Direction on it which further controls minor works such as fences."

What do you think? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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