WAVERLEY Council has been deluged with representations on Crest Nicholson's East Street plans, with more than 9,300 received on the three applications as The Herald went to press. Council staff have struggled to cope with the backlog of reponses waiting to be recorded and put on the council's website. And in anticipation of a further flurry once planning officers' reports on the applications are published, Waverley is having to consider employing extra short-term staff. Of the 4,377 people who have so far registered comments on the main application for the overall redevelopment, a resounding 4,349 have objected. Only six have backed the plans, the remaining 22 passing comments, but not expressing a definitive view. The public's views regarding the other two applications, which relate to conversion of the listed Brightwell House and demolition of the Redgrave Theatre, have been even more damning. The total number of objections to the applications was 4,938, the total number in support, just one. Farnham Town Council last week added its voice to the ranks of objectors to the overall scheme and also "regretted" the demolition of the theatre. The council, which had been unable to debate the issues at an earlier meeting because there were insufficient councillors present to form a quorum, considered the matter with just eight of the 18 members present. They found merit in parts of the scheme, including the provision of a good sized- cinema, affordable housing and the concept of underground parking. But traffic concerns were reiterated and the scale and mass of the development was condemned, along with the many flat topped buildings. Council leader Mark Norris held up The Sunday Times property supplement with an advert for Crest Nicholson homes in other parts of the country and suggested that stock designs were being replicated. "I don't think any of these buildings matches in with the character of Farnham," he observed. In the light of the unprecedented public interest in the scheme, Waverley's executive on Tuesday began considering the practicalities of where and how the application will be considered by the council's joint development management committee. The earliest possible date will be Monday, January 29, but before that happens there will be site visits and a technical briefing for councillors. The executive agreed that a controlled amount of public speaking will be allowed at the planning meeting, although a report by council officers made the comment that the planning process is "less about public opinion, but more about material planning considerations". The executive also heard Ken Reed, portfolio holder for housing, applaud the fact that just under 300 homes, 88 of them affordable, stood to be provided by the scheme. "At this time of the year, and recognising that we are some 40 years on from the groundbreaking TV drama Cathy Come Home, it is tragic that there are still insufficient affordable homes for those in need," said Mr Reed. He said that in the last three years, the record of providing affordable homes was not good - just 68 in Farnham, 51 for rent and 17 for shared ownership. "The regeneration of East Street represents the opportunity to add to the borough's provision of affordable homes in Farnham with Thames Valley Housing Association providing 88 new one and two bedroom homes, of which 46 homes will be for rent and 42 for shared ownership." Chris Mansell, portfolio holder for East Street, added: "Farnham's Health Check rated affordable housing as the fourth most important issue for the town. The East Street scheme represents a real chance to redress the balance in Farnham with more affordable homes in the town centre, using the infrastructure that's already in place and demonstrating our commitment to the climate change agenda. "We are all looking forward to seeing how Crest Nicholson meets these needs with innovative and creative design." In the meantime, the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) has responded to the news that if Waverley wants to grant permission, it will not refer the applications for Secretary of State Ruth Kelly to decide if she wants to determine them. In the circumstances, GOSE is asking Waverley to provide full documentation on the applications to allow the Secretary of State to decide if they should be "called in" for a public inquiry.
