DEVELOPERS Fairview Homes have been granted permission to build a complex of 14 apartments and 720 square metres of office space on the site of the former Hancock Ford garage on Firgrove Hill.
WaverleyÕs western area development control sub committee voted unanimously to back FairviewÕs planning application - reduced in height and scaled down from 820 square metres of office space in a previously refused application - fearing if they refused again the property developer would appeal and win.
Fairview had previously submitted simultaneous planning applications for 13 and 14 apartments, both of which were refused and appeals subsequently dismissed.
The new proposal brought ten letters of objection, including some from neighbouring residents associations,
Farnham Town Council, though not objecting, was concerned about overdevelopment, lack of car parking spaces and the height of the structure.
Surrey County Council highways department, the Environment Agency and WaverleyÕs environmental health officer gave the scheme conditional support.
Planning officers felt the new scheme overcame concerns about overdevelopment and fears that the complex would be out of character.
But they agreed with a suggestion by Conservative councillor Bernard Foulkes that developers must notify Waverley about how the office space/light industry part of the complex will be used, amid fears about noise.
Summing up the mood of councillors, Liberal Democrat John Wooton referred to the residentsÕ campaign which helped see off the previous less favourable applications: ÒItÕs a huge improvement brought about by the pressure of local opinion. What came through originally was really quite objectionable.
ÒWe would be running a very serious risk if we tried to change this application and if it went to appeal, it would probably be upheld.Ó