More than a thousand objections have been lodged against a scheme to build 200 homes on an abandoned Surrey golf course.

Developers Charterhouse Strategic Land and Moore Place Holdings are seeking outline planning permission to build on the former Moore Place Golf Course near the edge of Esher.

The proposals are to be considered by Elmbridge Borough Council’s planning committee and officers are recommending the scheme be approved subject to a set of conditions.

If given the green light, the works would see existing buildings at the 12.5-hectare site knocked down to make way for up to 206 new homes.

“The application site is in a sustainable location adjacent to Esher High Street and is within proximity to a range of amenities and services,” the applicant’s planning documents say.

On top of this, the developer argues there is a “critical undersupply of homes” in the borough.

However, the golf course site – vacant since 2019 – falls within the green belt, and more than 1,173 letters voicing concerns with the proposals have been submitted to the council.

“This is precious green belt land which must be maintained,” one resident wrote.

“This is open space which makes a very strong contribution to preserving the setting and special character of the historic town of Esher and it would be tragic if this beautiful landscape with many beautiful mature English trees was concreted over and covered in housing.”

Another wrote: “Please find another use for it apart from more houses – a way to actually improve the community.”

However, the developer argues the site would qualify as “grey belt” – a term introduced to national planning guidelines in 2024 allowing for looser development restrictions on land that does not sufficiently contribute to green belt purposes.

In their report, officers wrote that the site meets the criteria for grey belt “because it does not strongly contribute to green belt purposes relating to urban sprawl, settlement separation or setting of historic towns”.

They add: “The site is largely enclosed by existing development and was previously identified in green belt reviews as making only a limited contribution to green belt purposes.”

Officers are recommending that councillors approve outline planning permission subject to a number of conditions being met through a “satisfactory legal agreement”.

This would include a commitment to 50 percent of homes built through the scheme being affordable housing, as well as contributions towards local infrastructure.

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