Surrey Heath council puts land up for sale to plug £3m budget gap
Critics warn of lost green space as council seeks to raise funds by selling land in Frimley.
A Surrey council is selling off a plot of land for housing as it tries to tackle a £3.14m budget deficit.
Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) has placed a 1,200 sq m site next to 25 Greenbank Way, Frimley on the market.
The move has sparked criticism from some councillors and residents who warn it will lead to the permanent loss of green space.
The authority has already announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including:
Reviewing garden waste subscriptions
Ending on-call weekend services for unauthorised encampments
Reducing town centre CCTV
Axing council-run community and civic events
Councillor Kel Finan-Cooke, SHBC’s portfolio holder for property and economic development, said:
“This is a great opportunity to develop a small site to fit in with the local area. We’re looking for buyers who care about thoughtful, sustainable development and want to make the most of this space.”
But councillor Jonny Cope voiced strong opposition, warning:
“Once green spaces are gone, they are gone permanently.”
SHBC stressed that the larger green area near the Montessori school in Greenbank Way will remain.
The council has already faced pushback over land sales, including its recent decision to sell Deepcut car park despite protests from residents.