Ancient oaks on the doorstep
Ashtead Common covers around five hundred acres and holds thousands of ancient oak pollards, veteran trees that support rare invertebrates and have made the common a protected nature reserve managed by the City of London Corporation rather than a local council.
A commuter village with older roots
Ashtead's centre retains an older village feel around its church and green, while the surrounding roads filled in during the twentieth century as London's commuter belt reached further into Surrey, leaving a mix of garage types depending on when each street was built.
Mole Valley's planning authority
Mole Valley District Council covers Ashtead, a different authority from the borough that handles planning around Reigate itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ashtead Common known for?+
Its thousands of ancient pollarded oak trees, managed as a nature reserve by the City of London Corporation rather than a local council.
Which council covers Ashtead?+
Mole Valley District Council, separate from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, which covers Reigate.
Nearby areas
Services
Useful local links
- Reigate and Banstead Borough Council – Planning — The planning authority covering Reigate itself, along with Redhill, Horley, Banstead and several nearby villages.
- Mole Valley District Council – Do I need planning permission — The planning authority covering Dorking, Ashtead, Leatherhead and several villages southwest of Reigate.
- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council – Planning permission — The planning authority covering Epsom, a separate borough from Reigate and Banstead.
- Tandridge District Council – Planning and building — The planning authority covering Caterham, Nutfield and South Nutfield.
- GOV.UK – Planning permission: when you need it — Government guidance on when planning permission is required in England and Wales.
- GOV.UK – Party Wall etc. Act 1996 guidance — Government guidance on notifying neighbours and resolving disputes over shared or boundary walls, relevant to attached garage conversions and extensions.
- Planning Portal – Garage conversion — National guidance on when planning permission is needed for a garage conversion in England.