OPPOSITION councillors have claimed that Surrey County Council is in the process of planning housing and development across dozens of sites in a “secret deal” with a private sector partner worth more than £1 billion.

The Surrey Opposition Forum (SOF), comprising the Lib Dems and Green Party, say the county council is currently tendering a contract for a ’Joint Property Joint Venture Partner’ that could see Surrey, along with a large number of public sector partners, releasing land and vacant sites currently owned by the county council and others into the joint vehicle.

The value of the project is estimated to be between £250 million and £1.5bn, over a 15-year period with 32 sites currently identified but with potentially 100 more under consideration.

The county council has refused to reveal information about potential sites.

But using Freedom of Information legislation, opposition councillors have revealed where half of the planned sites are located - including a site adjoining St Paul’s C of E School in Tongham. No sites have yet been identified in Farnham or Haslemere.

Surrey’s Lib Dem group leader Hazel Watson and Green Party councillor Jonathan Essex have written to Surrey leader David Hodge, urging him to share more information on these proposals with all county councillors.

Mrs Watson said: “While it is good news that the county council is finally looking at how to better utilise properties that have in some cases been empty for over a decade, the details of this project remain hidden from county councillors and local residents.

“These plans deserve the highest level of scrutiny and public engagement, which is the exact opposite of the Conservative administration’s approach so far to its management of its own assets and the culture of secrecy which is prevalent at County Hall.”

Mr Essex added: “The county council should be managing its land and assets in the best interest of residents.

“I am deeply concerned that there is no mention of affordability so far in terms of housing or whether there is an environmental framework that the joint vehicle will be adhering to in terms of ensuring that any future development is sustainable.”

Responding to the revelation, Farnham Residents councillor for Farnham Moor Park, Andy MacLeod said the project, if successful, could be good news for taxpayers in Waverley.

“If this ‘secret plan’ means that Surrey is going to focus their property investment strategy on developing un-used and under-utilised Surrey properties rather than making highly speculative investments in buying commercial properties then I am very much in favour of it,” he said.

“This would be particularly the case if they proposed to work with borough councils, including Waverley, in developing affordable housing and much needed housing for tenants at social rents.”

However, Farnham North councillor Stephen Spence was less optimistic, calling for more “openness and transparency” at Surrey and criticising the council’s “top down” decision making.

“A lot of the time it seems Surrey’s cabinet comes together, say what they think should happen, and then they take it to the Conservative group in private to get the votes they need.

“The residents of Farnham North would like to have some sort of a say in what the priorities are and what the decisions are. This model of decision making doesn’t do that.”

A spokesman for Surrey County Council said no decisions have been made, adding the cabinet will discuss the proposed joint property venture at its meeting on October 31.

“As we continue to lose government funding and pressure for services continues to rise our property strategy means looking at the properties we own to make sure we are making the best use of it for the Surrey taxpayer,” the spokesman said.

“Sometimes there is a need for commercial sensitivity to ensure we get the best possible result for Surrey residents.”