Up to 10,000 more people will be able to watch the Olympic road race at Box Hill next year after organisers announced they would be increasing spectator capacity.

Just 3,500 were originally going to be allowed access to one of the best vantage points for the Olympic road race on the Zig-Zag Road incline and Donkey Green area of Box Hill.

But following a test event in August last year plans have been put in place to allow for up to 15,000 people.

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) have been working with the land owners, National Trust and wildlife advisers, Natural England to ensure capacity could be increased without damaging natural habits.

Work has already begun to remove scrub along the Zig Zag and to encourage chalk grassland to grow after the event for endangered species such as man orchids and small blue butterflies.

Andy Wright, National Trust Countryside Manager for Box Hill, said: “The surveys conducted by LOCOG are the most thorough ever carried out on this site and will really help us manage the habitat for the long term. The scrub alongside the road has very few species living in it so when we remove it, it doesn’t matter if people walk in those areas. Gradually, over the years that land will turn into chalk grassland which is a much richer habitat - supporting around 60 to 100 species of plants, animals and insects per square metre.”

Jim Smyllie, Natural England’s executive director for delivery, said: “Natural England has a responsibility to ensure that the wildlife on this very special site is effectively protected, and it is great news that LOCOG’s survey shows that careful scrub clearance will restore degraded habitat and at the same time enable more spectators to view the thrilling road cycling events of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The cycling road races will be world class events in world class scenery and the restoration work at Box Hill will help ensure they leave a living legacy.”

Click here for the full Olympic road race route

Spectators will still have to buy a ticket to gain access to this prime vantage point through the London 2012 ticketing office.

Liberal Democrat Councillor David Preedy for Boxhill and Headley, said: " Although for that area people will have to pay, I think most of the local people will actually be as happy watching it on other parts. I know there's work being done and there is a residents group for the communities who are actually on the loop who will be meeting again in February and we will expect to get an update on that then. I think there needs to be more of a park and ride scheme."

People will able to view the race for free from other roads on the Box Hill Loop, excluding the Zig-Zag Road incline and Donkey Green, as well as some 120kms of road as the race travels through six London boroughs, four Royal Parks and the Surrey countryside.

Work will take place in March to install a BT fibre optic cable to the top of Box Hill enabling efficient communication, recording of results, broadcasting and timing during the Olympics and will also provide high speed broadband capabilities to the area in future.

In April the National Trust plan to re-surface the Zig Zag Road.