Plans to construct a major new residential development of 149 homes on a contentious site bordering the M25 motorway in Surrey have been formally approved by the local planning authority.
The Chartway Partnerships Group, in collaboration with MTP Developments Ltd and housing association VIVID, has secured permission to create what it describes as a "new neighbourhood" on land north of Green Lane in Chertsey.
Overcoming the Noise Challenge
The 7.2-hectare site, situated south of the M25 and east of St Peter's Hospital, has long been recognised as a challenging location due to its proximity to what has been labelled the motorway's "noisiest part".
In March 2022, Councillor Malcolm Cressey vividly described the area, stating you can "stand a mile away and you can hear the noise". He referenced existing five-metre-high noise barriers nearby, which he claimed did little to mitigate the "horrendous" sound levels.
Despite these significant acoustic challenges, Runnymede Borough Council's planning committee gave the scheme the green light in October, following an application submitted in August 2024.
A Development Built on Previous Consent
This is not the first time this specific plot of land has been earmarked for housing. The approval builds upon an earlier proposal from a different developer, Taylor Wimpey, which received consent in 2022 for almost 150 homes and five Gypsy and Traveller pitches.
The current Chartway scheme has modified several elements of that original plan. The new development will also include five dedicated traveller pitches, addressing a specific local need.
Previous proposals faced staunch opposition. A representative from the Save Chertsey Group told the planning committee in 2022 that residents felt their quality of life was being ignored and their calm, green neighbourhood was being destroyed.
Creating a Sustainable Community
The developers are promising more than just houses. Oliver Jolley, Chief Development Officer at Chartway, said the project will deliver a "high-quality mix of private and affordable homes" alongside vital community and green infrastructure.
The comprehensive plans feature not only the 149 homes—a mixture of private, affordable, and shared ownership properties—but also high-quality landscaping, green open spaces, and improved pedestrian and cycle links.
Further investment will be directed towards modern utilities, drainage, and safe road access, with the aim of having the development "integrate seamlessly with the wider area".
Tristan Samuels, Group Development and New Business Director at VIVID, emphasised their commitment to "creating thriving, inclusive communities" where people can feel truly at home.
According to the developers, work on the site is scheduled to commence in mid-2026, with the first residents anticipated to move in during the opening months of 2028.
