Second Normandy Survey Shows Huge Opposition to Plan for 950 Homes

Published on: 2 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 4 Dec, 2025

The panel at Sunday’s meeting included MP Al Pinkerton as well as local councillors. Around 150 members of the public were there

By David Reading

Normandy residents have demonstrated overwhelming opposition to plans for major housing developments in their village, according to the results of a survey organised by the parish council.

Around 150 Normandy people attended a public meeting in the village hall on Sunday evening (November 30), which was organised by the parish council to present the results of the survey.

The particular focus was on Taylor Wimpey’s proposal to build 950 homes on the open Green Belt land separating the settlements of Normandy and Flexford – a site described at the meeting as “environmentally sensitive.”.

Normandy’s Lib Dem MP, Dr Al Pinkerton, who was present at the meeting, made it clear he was against the development.

Cllr Simon Schofield, parish council chair, reported that 686 responses to the survey had been received, which is somewhere around a quarter of the population. A total of 95.6 per cent were either against the Taylor Wimpey proposals (13.1 per cent) or strongly against (82.5 per cent).

A significant number, 20.9 per cent, said they would support a smaller development of up to 100 houses, but 62.3 per cent were against any houses at all on this site.

The land that residents want to save from development

Opponents cited numerous issues including fears about road safety and traffic, pressure on health services, the loss of Green Belt land, changes to Normandy’s local character, management of sewage, flooding and surface water, and the threat to wildlife habitats.

In early November Taylor Wimpey had held a public engagement event to discuss their proposals but there was a feeling at Sunday’s meeting that the company had failed to inspire any confidence that these contentious issues would be addressed satisfactorily.

There was 85.9 per cent support from respondents for the parish council to incur additional costs should it need to engage legal services to defend against an eventual planning application, even if this meant an increase in Council Tax.

Cllr Schofield said: “Normandy residents have made their voices heard loud and clear through this consultation.”

This was the second survey organised to get feedback on Taylor Wimpey’s proposals. Throughout September people on the Normandy Action Group’s mailing list were asked to complete an online questionnaire. The survey drew 336 responses and the action group says the results were clear-cut – with 317 against, 18 undecided and one in favour.

Taylor Wimpey has not yet submitted a formal planning application, and the scheme is still in its early design stages, but if approved it would see Normandy village almost double in size.

Those opposing the development have pointed out that, with recent changes to the national planning framework, including a doubling of local housing targets and the introduction of the concept of ‘Grey Belt’, Guildford Borough Council is under significant pressure to approve speculative planning applications, even large proposals such as the Normandy one, which would normally only come forward as ‘strategic sites’ in the Local Plan.

The situation is complicated by the fact that from April 2027 GBC will cease to exist as a separate entity, with the merging of councils in Surrey.

Addressing Taylor Wimpey’s proposals, MP Dr Pinkerton commented: “I defy anyone — especially Steve Reed, the Secretary of State — to come to Normandy, walk these fields and woodlands, and then tell me this is what was meant by ‘grey belt’. To reclassify this land would stretch credulity. Common sense must prevail — not only for the sake of Normandy, but for green belt across the UK that risks coming under similar pressure.”

Joining the MP on the platform alongside Cllr Schofield and Parish Clerk Amanda Pick were the parish council’s planning adviser, Steve Tilbury, Surrey County and Guildford Borough Councillor Keith Witham, and Guildford Borough Councillor David Bilbé.