140 Homes Planned for Send Green Belt: Decision Looms
A Village at Breaking Point: The Aldertons Farm Proposal
Residents of Send, Ripley and Wisley are bracing for a pivotal decision as Guildford Borough Council prepares to rule on plans for 140 new homes on Green Belt land at Aldertons Farm, just off Send Marsh Road. Developer Gleeson Ltd has proposed the scheme, which sits behind the Lotus Manor Care Home, alongside a 15-hectare public green space designed to offset the loss of countryside. For those living nearby, this is more than a planning dispute—it’s about the character of a village many feel has already given up more than its fair share of open land. With half the proposed homes earmarked as affordable housing, the council faces a genuine balancing act between meeting housing targets and protecting a community that says it’s already stretched thin. The site’s location, sandwiched between established residential roads and farmland, makes it a symbol of the wider tension playing out across this corner of Surrey, where the pressure to build collides with concerns about infrastructure, traffic and quality of life for existing residents who chose these villages precisely for their rural feel.
Residents Speak Out: Congestion, Schools and Strained Services
The planning portal has received 165 objection comments, painting a vivid picture of daily frustrations. One local commuter described a 25-minute crawl to travel just one mile through Send Marsh Road during recent roadworks—at 7am, no less. Residents point to oversubscribed schools, lengthy GP waiting times, and a lack of proper shopping facilities that forces people to drive to Ripley or Burpham for basics. This isn’t unique to Send; similar concerns echo in commuter villages from Horsley to East Horsley, where growth has outpaced infrastructure investment. For families in the area, the worry isn’t just about 140 homes—it’s about the cumulative effect when combined with nearby developments like Allium Park (up to 620 homes) and the Wisley Airfield scheme (1,720 homes). Add in 1,800 homes near Burpham and a proposed 74-bed care home, and it’s easy to see why locals feel Send has become ground zero for Surrey’s housing expansion. Those affected should keep an eye on the council’s July 22 meeting, where planning officers will continue deliberations, and can still submit feedback via Guildford Borough Council’s planning portal before decisions are finalised.
What’s Next for Send—and What Residents Can Do
As the decision date approaches, this development is a bellwether for how Surrey balances housing need against community capacity. If approved, homeowners in Send may want to start planning ahead—whether that means budgeting for a kitchen renovation to boost property value amid rising local demand, or considering a bathroom refurbishment before new neighbours arrive and local tradespeople get booked solid. Established bathroom fitters and renovation specialists across Guildford, Woking and Dorking are already reporting busier schedules as homeowners in growth areas prepare their properties, whether to sell, rent, or simply modernise ahead of increased local footfall. Residents who want their voices heard should attend the July 22 council meeting or submit comments directly to Guildford Borough Council before the final vote. Community groups in Send and Ripley are also encouraged to coordinate with parish councils to ensure infrastructure concerns—roads, GP capacity, school places—are formally logged alongside the housing decision. Whatever the outcome, this proposal marks a significant moment for the area, and residents should stay engaged as further developments, including the nearby care home proposal, continue to reshape the local landscape in the months ahead.
Source: Plans for 140 homes on Surrey village green belt land set to be decided
