CAMPAIGNERS have lost their battle to stop a controversial housing development on Midhurst Road in Haslemere.

Waverley Borough Council's development control committee approved planning permission by the narrowest of margins at a highly charged meeting on Tuesday.

The decision flies in the face of unanimous objections from Haslemere Town council, Waverley's southern area development control committee and opposition from residents.

The revised application from PNH (properties) Ltd, includes 14 affordable homes and nine, four and five-bedroom houses, a three-bedroom detached house, 56 parking spaces and 27 garages. This would replace the existing four properties on the land at Meadowlands, Wakeners Wood, St Andrew's and Arnos.

Although concern was expressed from members that it would be out of keeping and too large for the site, the decision was swayed by fears that the application would go to appeal.

This, members believed would lead to a loss of bargaining power for the council over community benefits promised by the developers.

Members heard from Michael Biddiscombe, on behalf of local residents, reiterate concerns over extra traffic generated by the development.

He claimed this could turn local roads into rat-runs and cause problems on the Midhurst Road, where traffic already speeds and is considered dangerous.

The most overriding concern was that the development would be out of keeping with the surroundings and too large for a site which although classified as "urban" is on the border of the Sussex countryside.

On behalf of developers, Roger Hutton reminded the committee that there was no evidence to support concerns that local infrastructure would not be able to cope. He further claimed that the development could not be seen from public vantage points

"I must remind you that southern area does not have a good history of winning appeals and if this goes to an appeal it could be a considerable waste of time and money and the council will lose its power and ability to negotiate benefits for the community."

But his warning was strongly rebuked by Pam Hibbert. "Personally I don't really like being threatened with appeals by developers and I don't think objecting to this is something we should be running scared from. Common sense must prevail and we must take a stand.

"If this does go to appeal then it is showing the government that we are unhappy with the schemes being presented to us and perhaps they will get the message.

"Appeals are costly and it can't be something they want to keep doing."

A number of pleas to grant permission came from members who believed it to be the lesser of two evils. "I would love to fight this one through," said Adam Taylor-Smith. "But the reality of the situation is that regrettably we can't sustain an appeal.

"We know that the density level is at the lower recommended level, and that the Highways Agency has raised no objections."

Others members including Willie Marshall and Brian Ellis argued that the proposal did not represent an overdevelopment in their opinion and that the design scheme was spacious and well thought out.

The committee voted eight to seven in favour of following the officers' recommendation to grant planning permission.