The information below has been generated by Copilot in response to prompts asking for an update. The situation will change week by week as Dandara (the developer) decides on the approach. There have been regular meetings between Dandara and officers of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, with limited briefings of some councillors.
Short Takeaway:
Downs Farm is being promoted for 500–675 homes, and the council has already considered whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required. The most recent evidence shows that Epsom & Ewell Borough Council issued a screening opinion stating that an EIA was not required at the pre‑application stage, but that an EIA would be required if a full planning application is submitted.
Reference Link from Yahoo News / Surrey Live :-
675 Home Plans Surrey Farmland
Proposals to build up to 675 homes, a school, and various public spaces have been put forward to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.
Developers Dandara have expressed interest in delivering a large housing project on land at Downs Farm, which runs across 110-acres either side of College Road in Epsom.
The farmland is within eye-shot of Epsom College to its west, to its south is the Epsom Downs railway station and it is roughly a ten minute drive from the town centre.
What we know about Downs Farm (500–675 homes)
- Formal EIA Screening Request (June 2026)
A developer (Dandara South East) submitted a formal EIA screening request for Downs Farm, 140 Reigate Road, Ewell. The request letter confirms it was made under Regulation 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017.
This shows the site is being treated as a major development with potential environmental effects.
Reference Link from Planning.Org.UK :-
https://docs.planning.org.uk/20260623/2/TH30I1GY0J400/c9pbepfzt0gyfmd5.pdf
Council’s Screening Opinion (July 2026)
According to reporting from Yahoo News UK, the council issued a screening opinion at the end of July 2026:
- EIA not required at this stage
- EIA will be required if a full planning application is submitted
Scale of development
The site is being promoted for:
- 530 homes in the draft Local Plan allocation (council evidence)
- 675 homes in developer promotion material
Up to 970 homes when combined with Priest Hill in wider Green Belt proposals (campaign group reporting)
Reference Link from Epsom Green Belt :-
https://epsomgreenbelt.org/2026/06/04/urgent-update-downs-farm-priest-hill-under-threat/
What this means for a 500‑home proposal at Downs Farm
Based on the council’s published screening opinion:
A full EIA will be required if a planning application is submitted for 500 homes.
The site’s Green Belt status, traffic impacts, biodiversity, and infrastructure pressure are all cited locally as significant concerns.
The council is under pressure to allocate land for ~1,000 additional homes before 2040, making Downs Farm a key strategic site.
Ewell Green Belt 