Pressure to build new houses has threatened Elmbridge’s greenbelt, while immigration has added to  population pressures in Surrey, as people move out of London and across the South East.

There are no overnight solutions to the pressures on housing - but preserving the greenbelt must remain a priority, because once lost it can’t be regenerated. This requires long-term action on several fronts. First, we need to continue to strengthen immigration controls, to ease population pressures that inevitably spill over into Elmbridge from London and the South East.

Second, we need to continue to strengthen local democratic control over planning policy and applications. Finally, we need to build on the success of the New Homes Bonus, which ensures local communities receive back a greater share of the revenue raised from the sale of new homes - which provides an incentive to build additional housing, where it is necessary and appropriate.