Latest news with #MoleValley
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lib Dems hold Woking seats after MP leaves council role
The Liberal Democrats have won three Surrey council seats in a by-election, taking an overall majority in both Morales was elected as Surrey County councillor for Woking South while Deborah Hughes was elected to Woking Borough Council in Hoe of the seats were contested after they were vacated by Will Forster, the Lib Dem MP for Woking who was elected in Mole Valley, Lawrence Penney was also elected in Bookham East and Eastwick Park. Reform came second in each contest.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans for 270 new homes approved in Ashtead
Up to 270 new homes are to be built in a Surrey village close to the Valley District Council's development committee has approved the plans for land south of Ermyn Way in proposals, which include 108 affordable properties, a community building and space for gypsy and traveller pitches, were approved by six votes to five with two Beresford, from Ashtead Residents' Association, said: "Adding 580 residents would be unsustainable, the character of the area will certainly be harmed." The new development will be Surrey's biggest cul-de-sac, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Wates said the scheme would "go a considerable way to alleviating housing pressure in the area".The company said it had been working on the proposals since 2014, with both the council and planning inspector agreeing it was a sustainable site.A spokesperson said: "Mole Valley is one of the least affordable places to buy a home with about 680 households currently on the waiting list."The still-to-be-determined final layout will include a purpose-built community building with potential for a children's nursery, 30 acres of open space with green corridors and children's play areas, and cycling schools have told the council there is enough capacity to take on the expected increase in children moving into the area, the meeting heard. But independent councillor Gerry Sevenoaks said he opposed the development."It will have a devastating impact, increasing traffic pollution and loss of biodiversity," he said."But more importantly, there would be a devastating impact on the residents living close to this development."
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mole Valley District Council 'trying' to keep housing affordable
The council for a Surrey district where recent research found one in five homes is worth more than £1m is to update its affordable housing Valley has seen a 12% increase in the proportion of million-pound homes in the last six years, according to analysis by property website Rightmove published earlier this Valley District Council said there were 662 households on the housing register in the Joseph, the councillor responsible for affordable housing, told BBC Radio Surrey the administration was "trying to put actions in place to try and assist people". The proportion of £1m home in Elmbridge and Waverley also grew by 11% and 8% respectively, the Rightmove analysis agent and housing market commentator Henry Pryor told BBC Radio Surrey he was "deeply, deeply embarrassed" by the inability to find a political solution to the issue in recent says the share of homes worth more than £1m has "increased exponentially".""That's even with people who cannot afford to buy a house not represented in property price data," he said, as "their inability to buy or sell often is not reflected". 'Very aware of the situation' Mole Valley is "beautiful" and "convenient for London", Joseph said, but "that does unfortunately then result in rising house prices"."We don't want people having to move out of the area because they can't afford to live here, especially when they have parents and family in the area," she said. "That's not helpful to anybody."The councillor added her administration is "very aware of the situation".The district council adopted a local plan in October setting out where and when it will allow 6,000 new homes to be built over 15 the local plan, the local authority acknowledged housing affordability was "a significant problem".The council will discuss its updated affordable housing strategy at an upcoming committee meeting, according to said: "We work very, very hard to help people. We don't want anybody to ever feel like they have no options or that they have to face homelessness."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey districts see fast rise in houses costing over £1m
One in five properties in Mole Valley are now worth £1m or more, according to a property website. The area is one of three Surrey districts included in a list of the fastest increases in the proportion of million-pound homes in the last six years, by property website Rightmove. Mole Valley has seen the biggest rise in this category with a 12% increase, while Elmbridge and Waverley grew by 11% and 8% respectively. Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said Mole Valley was "a standout". One in five properties in Waverley is valued at more than £1m while the figure stands at one in four in Elmbridge. Just over 5% of homes for sale across Britain are now priced at £1m or more, compared with just under 3% in 2019, Rightmove website says the Covid-19 pandemic has driven property demand outside the capital and into commuter belt locations, citing Waverley as an example. Additionally Elmbridge has the ninth biggest concentration of million-pound homes in England, Wales and Scotland. Ms Babcock said: "Since 2019, we've seen the number of million-pound homes for sale double, with over 5% of the market now priced at a million pounds or more."This isn't just happening in London; places like Cornwall, Uttlesford, and Somerset are also seeing big jumps in the number of high-value properties."Elsewhere in the South East, Tunbridge Wells saw a 183% rise in volume of million-pound or more homes since before Covid. Local areas included in Rightmove's research were those with at least 10 or more homes for sale during the time periods analysed.
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
One in 20 properties now worth £1m or more
The number of £1m-plus homes for sale has doubled as Britain's race for space intensifies, a property website has found. One in 20 homes on the market is now priced at seven figures or more, 103pc more than six years ago, Rightmove found. Cornwall saw the largest increase with a 246pc rise, while 22pc of homes for sale in Surrey's Mole Valley now cost £1m or more. London retained the largest concentration of high priced homes for sale, with Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea topping the list ahead of Wandsworth. The data, released by Rightmove, showed there were twice as many homes listed at £1m or more between January and April 2025 compared to the same period in 2019. Property prices have increased in recent years, particularly in seaside locations, after city homeowners sought extra space amid the rise in opportunities to work from stamp duty holiday and low interest rates also pushed up prices. Colleen Babcock, of Rightmove, said the surge was 'substantial'. She said: 'Since 2019, we've seen the number of million-pound homes for sale double, with over 5pc of the market now priced at a million pounds or more. 'This isn't just happening in London. Places like Cornwall, Uttlesford, and Somerset are also seeing big jumps in the number of high-value properties. 'Mole Valley is a standout, with 22pc of its homes for sale now in the million-pound bracket.' Areas with 10 or more homes for sale were included in Rightmove's research. Cornwall had the largest increase in seven-figure listings, followed by Uttlesford with 233pc and Somerset on 226pc. After Mole Valley, Waverley and Windsor and Maidenhead saw the biggest increases in proportion of houses priced at that level. All three areas had at least a 10pc rise. Eight of the top 10 areas with the highest concentration of million-pound plus houses were in London, with Buckinghamshire and Elmbridge also making the list. Toby Leek, president of the National Association of Estate Agents Propertymark, said: 'The popularity and desire for our London capital remains strong, and with that comes increasing house prices, particularly in certain 'high-value' pockets such as Kensington and Chelsea. 'However, with huge social and economic changes happening, especially over the past decade, trends have shifted. Homeowners are looking for varying characteristics and locations, making rural, seaside and picturesque outer London areas much more appealing.' The figures come after second home owners were hit with huge bills after more than 200 local authorities brought in a 100pc council tax premium from April 1, enabled by rules introduced under the Conservatives. Telegraph analysis found that 2,000 second home owners in popular holiday hotspots could face bills of £10,000 or more across both their residences. The average second home owner will now see their tax bill rise 77pc to £3,672 in 2025-26.
