Update
13 April 2026
Community Field Purchase - Working Group Update
A group of residents has come together to explore options for a nearby plot of land that has come up for sale, with the aim of protecting the character of the area. This update shares what’s been done so far, the conversations underway, and how the wider community can get involved.
A group of residents has come together over the past week in response to the nearby plot of land that has recently come up for sale on Gratton Chase. Given concerns about its future and the potential impact on the area, we wanted to share where things currently stand and what has been explored.
*Engaged with the landowner*
We have been in direct contact with the landowner, who has confirmed there is already strong interest from other buyers. That said, he has been open, cooperative, and sensitive to the concerns raised by residents. Importantly, he is willing to consider an offer from the community, although any offer would likely need to be made by the end of this week.
*Spoken with the Parish Council*
We’ve spoken with the Parish Council, who explained they are not in a position to purchase the land themselves. However, they understand the concerns being raised locally and are supportive of residents exploring options. A Parish Council nominee will be joining the working group and attending future meetings.
*Engaged with Waverley Borough Council*
We have contacted Kevin Deanus (our elected councillor), who has been supportive so far, and we have a meeting scheduled this week to better understand what options and support might be available from Waverley.
*Explored alternative routes*
Alongside this, we’ve been looking at other possible avenues, including:
- Approaching developers or other land interest groups (e.g. SIGMA and others)
- Exploring charitable or third‑party options for future use, such as allotments
These discussions are ongoing and, at this stage, there is no clear outcome. We’ll continue to pursue these routes and will share updates if anything concrete emerges, and before any collective offer is considered.
*Community engagement*
Some residents have already been engaged directly to gauge interest and potential (non‑binding) contributions.
We are planning to widen engagement through conversations with more households nearby. This land affects the wider village, and we hope the broader community would support efforts to find a suitable outcome if other routes are not viable.
*Overall approach*
This is being approached as a practical, community‑led effort to protect the character of the area and, if possible, secure a sensible and well‑managed long‑term use for the land.
If there are ideas or alternative options we haven’t covered, please do share them and we’ll be happy to explore.
*Next steps*
Given the level of interest in the land, this remains time‑sensitive. We’ll continue investigating all viable options and will provide further updates shortly. If it becomes clear that a community offer is the only realistic route, we will convene another meeting before any offer is made.
In the meantime, if you’d like to pledge an indicative amount (with no commitment at this stage), please use the link on this site (http://grattonchase.co.uk/contribute.php) and feel free to share it with anyone else who may be interested.
*Engaged with the landowner*
We have been in direct contact with the landowner, who has confirmed there is already strong interest from other buyers. That said, he has been open, cooperative, and sensitive to the concerns raised by residents. Importantly, he is willing to consider an offer from the community, although any offer would likely need to be made by the end of this week.
*Spoken with the Parish Council*
We’ve spoken with the Parish Council, who explained they are not in a position to purchase the land themselves. However, they understand the concerns being raised locally and are supportive of residents exploring options. A Parish Council nominee will be joining the working group and attending future meetings.
*Engaged with Waverley Borough Council*
We have contacted Kevin Deanus (our elected councillor), who has been supportive so far, and we have a meeting scheduled this week to better understand what options and support might be available from Waverley.
*Explored alternative routes*
Alongside this, we’ve been looking at other possible avenues, including:
- Approaching developers or other land interest groups (e.g. SIGMA and others)
- Exploring charitable or third‑party options for future use, such as allotments
These discussions are ongoing and, at this stage, there is no clear outcome. We’ll continue to pursue these routes and will share updates if anything concrete emerges, and before any collective offer is considered.
*Community engagement*
Some residents have already been engaged directly to gauge interest and potential (non‑binding) contributions.
We are planning to widen engagement through conversations with more households nearby. This land affects the wider village, and we hope the broader community would support efforts to find a suitable outcome if other routes are not viable.
*Overall approach*
This is being approached as a practical, community‑led effort to protect the character of the area and, if possible, secure a sensible and well‑managed long‑term use for the land.
If there are ideas or alternative options we haven’t covered, please do share them and we’ll be happy to explore.
*Next steps*
Given the level of interest in the land, this remains time‑sensitive. We’ll continue investigating all viable options and will provide further updates shortly. If it becomes clear that a community offer is the only realistic route, we will convene another meeting before any offer is made.
In the meantime, if you’d like to pledge an indicative amount (with no commitment at this stage), please use the link on this site (http://grattonchase.co.uk/contribute.php) and feel free to share it with anyone else who may be interested.