As a result of government planning guidance changing, reclassifying previously developed land in the Green Belt as 'brownfield', the residents of Worplesdon find themsleves confronted by a new proposal at Merrist Wood College.  The college has published a proposal for 120 homes to be built on site to secure the financial future of the educational institution.

Due to a lack of funding to pay for improvements, the institution has stated the only way it can raise the necessary funds is to sell land in the southern part of the campus for residential development – currently the site of the equine facility.