THE battle to prevent the Caterham Cars site from being redeveloped moves into a new phase next week.
An appeal hearing takes place on Wednesday over a controversial plan to demolish the iconic car showroom and workshop in Station Avenue to build 35 apartments for the elderly, together with 128 square metres of commercial floor space.
The hearing takes place at 10am at Tandridge District Council's offices in Station Road East.
The scheme was unanimously rejected by members of the council's planning committee back in June
They concluded the application would mean the loss of a viable employment site and would generate too much elderly accommodation locally.
The apartments plan has drawn widespread opposition locally.
Two separate Save Caterham Cars Facebook sites have attracted about 1,200 members or "likes" between them.
Chris Windridge, who chairs the A Better Caterham campaign, told the planning committee at the time: "There are more than 50 unsold retirement flats in the immediate vicinity as it is.
"Are we going to give the red flag to Caterham Cars – a Formula One Grand Prix team which is seen by millions of viewers?"
Richard Sturt, from the scheme's Hampshire-based agents Planning Issues Ltd, insists the site has no viability for future employment.
He said: "It is extremely unlikely that any subsequent marketing, or even the construction of a replacement workshop, would generate occupiers."
Mr Sturt added a sheltered housing scheme, together with retail space, offered a good chance to regenerate the immediate area.