THE proprietor of The Bishops Table has lost an appeal to be allowed to build five houses in the grounds of the West Street hotel, solely on the grounds that ecological surveys need to be carried out before planning consent can be granted.

Andrew Torjussen had submitted the application involving the five cottages last summer, arguing that his business needed the finance that building the five cottages would provide in order to give the Grade II listed building a new lease of life.

The intention was to restore The Bishops Table as an 18-bedroom hotel and to provide on-site car parking, the lack of which was causing the business to suffer, by opening up access to vehicles through the coach house archway on the frontage.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.