Plans for Sandown redevelopment set to be submitted in coming weeks

Jockey Club Racecourses is set to submit planning applications to Elmbridge Borough Council for a redevelopment project at Sandown in the coming weeks following a second public exhibition event at the Esher course.

A refurbished main grandstand, improved racing staff accommodation and stabling, and a new pre-parade ring would be funded by the creation of 305 apartments across "five small, discrete pockets of residential development" on the outskirts of the track, should plans be given the go-ahead.

The project includes the building of a 150-room hotel, which would be positioned on to the end of the grandstand furthest away from the winning post, and a new family zone, including children play areas, a cycle track and cafe that would be open to the public all year.

More than 200 people attended a second public exhibition last week to discuss the proposals for the course, which lies entirely within the Green Belt – a similar number to that which attended the first event last month.

Phil White, London regional director of JCR, said: "Our second public exhibition was again really well attended and another important part of the local consultation for our redevelopment plans.

"There were no new concerns from our previous exhibition but the concerns raised were consistent regarding traffic and the Green Belt.

"We had lots of conversations with people who attended and we’re taking that feedback to help define our outline planning application, which we will look to submit in the next few weeks."

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