Surrey green belt Chobham Common housing plan 'outrageous'
A plan to build on green belt land near one of the largest nature reserves in the South East has been criticised by environmental groups.
Runnymede Borough Council has removed green belt status from the former Defence Evaluation and Research Agency site near Chobham Common.
This will allow thousands of homes to be built on the site to help the council meet its housing target.
The Open Spaces Society has called the decision "outrageous".
The council said it could not comment due to forthcoming local elections on 2 May.
The Open Spaces Society said it has pressured the council to abandon the plan.
Kate Ashbrook, from the society, said: "It [Chobham Common] is so special and to have a huge development right next to it will clearly put it at risk."
Chobham Common is home to many rare species of plant and insect, including the marsh gentian and window-winged caddis fly.