Plans for new retirement complex and GP rejected

Plans for a new retirement complex and medical centre in Surrey have been rejected.

Developers Merrow Wood submitted plans to build 107 independent living homes in East Grinstead Road in Lingfield, as well as replace the existing Lingfield GP surgery with a new medical centre.

At a Tandridge District Council planning meeting on Tuesday, councillors criticised the plans for "invading the green belt on the outskirts of Lingfield".

A Merrow Wood spokesperson said the complex would "service the local community and people with specialist needs".

A total of 79 of the homes would have been apartments and 28 would have been cottages for senior retirement living, while the medical centre would have included 10 consulting rooms, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Planning officers, who recommended the scheme for refusal, said there were no exceptional circumstances for building on rural land and the proposed development did not fit into the surroundings.

Peter Killick, councillor for Lingfield, said the proposed development was "unnecessary" as it would mean an "over provision of retirement homes in the location".

"To have a retirement village at the entrance would affect the rural character forever," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Sal Qureshi said the plans would have secured the GP practice for "potentially the next 50 years".

He added it would have attracted GPs, trainees, nurse trainees and other clinical staff.

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