MOLE Valley District Council and Merton College (Oxford) have selected six developers from bidders who have expressed an interest in the Leatherhead Bypass sites, including the Barnett Wood Lane Allotments.
They have invited these six to participate in the second of stage of the marketing process and submit more detailed proposals by a closing date of Monday 15 April.
A statement released by the council yesterday declared: "Six developers were selected following an EU compliant assessment process undertaken by the landowners, taking into account each developer's past experience and financial wherewithal to potentially take the development process forward. The proposals are indicative at this stage but include a mix of uses.
"The Council and Merton College are still at the exploratory stages in considering whether they wish to sell their adjacent sites. Both landowners want to ensure that whichever, if any, proposal is advanced further that a meaningful and capable developer is chosen at the conclusion of this marketing process. If any development is to be promoted it must be one that successfully enhances and is of benefit not only to the area and towns immediately surrounding Barnett Wood Lane, but the entire district.
"As part of the second stage in the marketing process, the detailed proposals put forward by the six developers will be required to address challenges such as green belt re-designation, traffic management, the re-provision of allotments, in addition to the possible enhancement of the local environment by providing community facilities, housing and employment opportunities. Any such development will also provide MVDC an ongoing financial contribution which, if realised, could help protect existing services, add a measure of certainty to the finances of the council and ensure MVDC can continue to provide value for money for its residents."
For more information, including feedback from the drop-in sessions, please visit www.molevalley.gov.uk/leatherheadbypassite.
