ALTON Town Council has expressed strong objection to a scheme which aims to restore existing buildings at Will Hall Farm but with the support of ÒunacceptableÓ enabling development.

While applauding the objective, the building of three new dwellings combined with the introduction of commercial activity was considered Òtoo high a price to payÓ.

Furthermore, the low-lying nature of the Basingstoke Road site, which is historically prone to flooding, was felt to be unsuitable for residential development, conjuring up thoughts of Chase Fields, Farringdon, where ground water flooding had driven residents out of their homes, never to return.

In discussing the application at last weekÕs meeting, members of ATC planning committee recognised Will Hall Farm as one of AltonÕs most sensitive and historic landmarks and, as such, it deserved careful consideration.

The proposal, made on behalf of the Alton Building Preservation Trust by Winchester-based architects, Radley House Partnership, is for change of use of a barn to B1 office use together with the conversion of farm buildings to provide four dwellings.

It also includes the construction of three new dwellings and altered access following demolition of various other buildings on the site.

Councillors felt that, although comprising several redundant agricultural dwellings, the site could not be considered brownfield. And it was beyond the Settlement Policy Boundary of Alton.

The proposals would therefore, in their opinion, comprise Òa major intrusion of development of the rural area which, if permitted, would prove seriously detrimental to the visual amenity and rural character of the area, setting a precedent for further development along this very attractive approach to the townÓ.

In addition, members did not consider the proposed flood prevention measures to be adequate for the site, suggesting that, Òwith the pending cessation of water extraction at the nearby source of the River Wey, the water flow through the site would be likely to increase and become more unpredictable.Ó

It was pointed out that the site had flooded recently and, with so many springs rising along this stretch of the infant river, the site was considered Òmost unsuitableÓ for any form of development.

The experience at Chase Field, where underground water rises in a similar way, was not one councillors wished to see repeated, they said.

In addition, they considered the introduction of commercial activity on to the site in the form of offices, to be Òinappropriate to, and at variance with, the prevailing character of the area.Ó

The committee pointed out that the roads leading to and from the site formed sub-standard junctions with the A339 Basingstoke Road, and would be inadequate to safely accommodate additional traffic generated by this proposal.

Members said they would be interested to learn details of the financial justification for the enabling development attached to this scheme. They were, according to deputy town clerk Greg Burt, unhappy that former owners, Winchester College, had allowed the site to become derelict, and would prefer to see the existing building restored to serve some form of educational purpose for which grants may be available.

One suggestion was for the conversion of the site to a working farm which could be used to educate people in all aspects of rural life.

Councillors said they would welcome an amended scheme for Will Hall Farm which sought to restore the whole historic site while addressing their very real concerns.

Similar objections were made to an application for Listed Building Consent for the same proposal at Will Hall Farm.