COUNCILLORS have tentatively given the green light for a £2.2m health and well-being centre at the Farnham Memorial Hall, despite concerns the new extension will become an “eyesore for generations to come”.

In a split decision Waverley Borough Council’s joint planning committee granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the Waverley-run hall in West Street to comprise a day centre for the elderly alongside its existing community use.

The decision was welcomed by trustees of the Brightwell Gostrey Centre, which will relocate from its current dilapidated premises in Dogflud Way to the Memorial Hall once construction of the extension is completed.

However, while supporting the Gostrey Centre’s move many councillors expressed concern that the design and scale of the extension would dwarf the existing building, while also questioning the relocation of the day centre so far from the town centre.

Carole Cockburn, councillor for The Bourne, said: “Like many Farnham councillors, I’m completely divided on this. I’ve worked closely with the Gostrey Centre and fully understand why after 12 years of total neglect they wish to move and I wouldn’t want to do anything that would prevent that move.

“Having said that I think this is appalling. I really do think it’s hideous. I don’t have a problem with a mix of old and new, but I do have a problem with the materials, bulk and mass of the proposed extension which will completely dwarf the original building.”

Many councillors including ward member Paddy Blagden and independent Andy MacLeod shared Mrs Cockburn’s sentiments, while Yolande Hesse, a founding partner of Back to Front Exterior Design with experience of ‘fixing’ more than 550 “ugly” buildings, also spoke against the design.

She said: “Balance is one of the essential ingredients in harmonious architecture. But two gabled buildings standing side by side, one which has seen better days and is already confused architecturally and the other built from modern materials - as is proposed here - would not produce balance, rather the opposite.

“To spend £2.2 million and have the Memorial Hall made even more visually confusing hurts. In our rush to alleviate the needs of the day care centre we are in danger of adding to this confusion, creating an architectural eye sore for generations to come.”

Darren Page, of Waverley’s commissioned architects Little Associates, defended the design, commenting that the contemporary extension would be of a similar volume to the existing hall and will provide a “striking contrast” between old and new.

He said: “The vision for the scheme is very deliberate. The Memorial Hall is of important local interest and the double-height space is its strongest element including the neo-classical frontage.

“The appearance of the building is to be improved with new pitched roofs to the existing side extensions, and positioning the new extension to the west of the Memorial Hall allows the existing building to still command the public views from West Street and Crosby Way.”

The legality of the Gostrey Center’s relocation to the Memorial Hall was also challenged by Waverley’s opposition Farnham Residents party who believe it breaches the hall’s 1947 deed of gift to the town as “a building for sports and physical training, particularly for schoolchildren”.

John Fraser, Farnham Residents’ councillor for Upper Hale, said: “It’s been said that wider use of the Memorial Hall must not be restricted. The existing covenants preclude this, yet the intimate connection of the hall and the relocated centre does put limits on the use of the hall.”

He added a folding screen that will separate the new health and wellbeing centre from the existing hall space will reduce the hall’s width - a move he said will be “bitterly resented” by current users such as dancing and toddler groups.

Mr Fraser also questioned whether the extension would be fit for purpose, adding the kitchen, servery and dining area would be too small to provide the Gostrey Centre’s existing level of service and particularly its Meals on Wheels service.

However, a trustee of the Gostrey Centre, John Cope, allayed these concerns and said Waverley had worked closely with the centre to ensure adequate facilities were provided.

He said: “We welcome this proposal as it would end many years of uncertainty due to the delays in the Brightwells East Street development, and it would give us a much improved and larger premises we so urgently need.

“During the last 10 years our existing premises, which were built in the 1950s, have become increasingly in need of extensive repair and refurbishment work. We’ve reached a point where there are several urgent health and safety concerns.

“A modern bright comfortable and attractive new premises would greatly enhance the appeal of the Gostrey Centre, a place none of us would mind leaving our aged relatives for a few hours of company and friendship.”

Speaking after councillors granted approval for the application - 17 votes in favour to four against - Waverley’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for major projects, Julia Potts expressed her delight that the extension could now proceed.

She said: “Waverley has an ageing population and we need to ensure that we have a centre that can meet the needs of older people and become a centre of health and wellbeing excellence in the longer term.

“There is a real positive in having a centre that offers varied use and social interaction with other groups. The new facility will be far more than a day centre in the traditional sense; it will be a flexible facility designed to cater for the ever-changing needs of residents.

“By redeveloping the Memorial Hall, we will breathe a new lease of life into a historical building which holds important local interest and secure its use for generations to come.”

She added the plans were formed in close consultation with Gostrey Centre trustees as well as the current users.