PLANS to build a new primary school and more than 2,000 houses east of Salfords could be submitted by next year.
The scheme is earmarked for a parcel of green belt land highlighted for potential development in Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's core strategy.
Though the land is included in the strategy for development after 2020, landowners Quitain hope to be able to get this moved forward. They say their development would help the council tackle the borough's housing shortage.
Quintain spokesman Liam Herbert said: "We know the area doesn't generate enough housing to meet the requirements.
"We have looked at the other sites and we think more can be done."
The core strategy document – which is currently being publicly reviewed by a government inspector – earmarks nine areas of green belt land in the borough for potential development to tackle the housing crisis.
Quintain's land is clearly defined by Salfords to the west, Mason's Bridge Road and Pickets Lane to the east, Cross Oak Lane to the south and Woodhatch to the north.
The company says it is better prepared to get on with the scheme than landowners of some of the other sites earmarked for housing earlier, as they have already drawn up their plans.
They also believe the council's projected house-building targets are too conservative – suggesting 700 could be built in the borough each year rather than the 460 proposed in the core strategy.
Geoff Smith, director of planning at DMH Stallard, which is advising Quitain, said: "Our development fits in very comfortably in our view with both the national and local targets. We know our site and have looked at it – and others – in great detail. This is still an emerging picture for the council but we think more can be done."
Quitain's detailed plans for the Salfords area include between 1,750 and 2,350 new houses, shops and a primary school.
They believe the detail of their plans means a full planning application could be put together by next summer if the site is moved up the council's development agenda – faster than other sites can be developed.
Mr Smith said: "We are very hopeful this will go ahead.
"We believe the council still haven't got their housing numbers right. Most of the initial development areas are around the major towns [Reigate, Banstead and Horley], we believe they can complement this by adding Salfords. It is not unrealistic to imagine there could be an application next year."
