Plans submitted for homes on former sea cadet site

Plans for council housing on a former sea cadet site in Surrey have been submitted.

The site at The Grove and Hawarden Road in Caterham, including the former barracks, could be used for up to 16 homes following a demolition of the existing buildings.

Tandridge District Council bought the land from the Ministry of Defence in 2023, before the Caterham Sea Cadets merged with Coulsdon and relocated to Coulsdon Quarters.

The council had approved doubling the pre-application budget to £100,000 to help fund additional costs.

The proposed development of affordable properties could provide up to 10 three-bedroom homes, five two-bedroom houses and a wheelchair-accessible one-bedroom home, all available for 70% of the market rent, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The homes created would be kept by the council and rented to families on the housing list.

Planning documents say the proposed new builds would look "contemporary and minimal" to reflect the residential area and previous army barracks.

They also say the council's "pressing housing needs" was a "compelling justification" for the proposed development.

The documents say the "significant public benefits of the scheme", such as providing affordable housing and improving the appearance of the area, should also hold considerable weight against the loss of the vacant sea cadet facility.

A public consultation on the plans is open until 23 February, with a decision due by 21 April.

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