Have your say on the Malden Rushett traveller pitches by 28th August
Many of you will have seen that a residential caravan site has been installed on the land on the east side of Leatherhead Road in Malden Rushett (opposite Chessington Garden Centre). The applicant has now applied for retrospective planning permission (Ref: 26/01543/FUL).
The proposal is to create a 7-pitch caravan site including seven dayrooms, hardstanding, drainage and landscaping.
The applicant is arguing that this land qualifies as ‘Grey Belt’ under new national rules which would make approval easier. However, Kingston Council’s own Green Belt Study dated February 2026 explicitly classifies this parcel of land (KuT16) as making a ‘Very Strong’ contribution to preventing urban sprawl and ‘Strong’ contribution to safeguarding the countryside. The study concludes it is not ‘Grey Belt’.
If the land is not ‘Grey Belt’ the applicant must demonstrate ‘Very Special Circumstances’ to outweigh harm to the Green Belt. We do not believe the applicant has in any way proved this.
Why the new national rules matter
The 2026 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes a tougher policy on unauthorised development (Policy DM8). It requires decision makers to give “substantial weight” against granting retrospective permission where the breach was intentional. In the Green Belt, where development is already inappropriate, this additional weight makes approval significantly harder.
How to comment (deadline: 28th August)
Residents are encouraged to submit their views. A strong objection would highlight the mismatch between the applicant’s Grey Belt claim and the Council’s official study. You may also refer to the new NPPF DM8 policy and its requirement to give substantial weight against intentional unauthorised development.