PLANS to demolish The Beacon at Hindhead and replace it with a development of 59 homes look likely to be given the go-ahead. Planning officers have given their backing to the proposals for the former hotel and national training centre and have recommended that planning permission to develop the site be given. Up until September 2002, The Beacon was home to the Lloyds TSB national training centre and was used for residential training courses. The bank has owned the building since 1948 when Lloyds bought the building for conference purposes and ensured the upkeep of its spectacular grounds, tennis courts, football pitch and golf course. The building had previously been The Beacon Hotel. As previously reported by The Herald, Lloyds TSB and Crest Nicholson Ltd have applied for permission to demolish The Beacon and a number of outbuildings to make make way for the new homes off Tilford Road. The applicants have proposed constructing a main building of three and four storeys which would contain 50 two and three-bedroom flats. A separate courtyard development of nine three- bedroom houses is also proposed for the site. The application proposes to create underground car parking for 63 vehicles as well as parking for a further 32 vehicles around the grounds. The application also proposes to retain the Stronsay building at the front of the site for offices with 20 parking spaces, creating a mixed use for the site. Reaction to the application has been mixed with Haslemere Town Council supportive and Surrey County Council objecting because it goes against its planning policies designed to maintain a supply of land for possible housing in future years. A public exhibition of the plans has also been held and the application has attracted 28 letters of support and five objecting. On Wednesday, May 18, Waverley Borough Council's southern area development control sub committee is due to discuss the proposals for the site. In a report to councillors, planning officers said that the vacant building has lost a lot of its original character following a large number of alterations over the years. "The Beacon was originally built as a hotel in 1898 but has been significantly altered since to such a degree that it is not worthy of listing," the report said. As a rule, planning permission for housing on employment and business sites is difficult to secure because the applicant has to exhaust all other alternatives uses first and only resort to housing when no other option is available. In their report to councillors, officers said that extensive marketing has been carried out and four viewing days were held which attracted five serious offers. One was from a housing association which eventually withdrew; one was from a private school, which had a change of heart over the location; another was made by a developer hoping to convert it into offices but changed its mind over the cost; and two offers came from housing developers. "Officers consider that the premises have been effectively marketed and that, in the light of no reasonable or sustainable offers being made that would either re-use the existing building or retain the existing institutional use on the site, it would be appropriate to consider alternative uses on the site," the report said. The report addressed the concerns of Surrey County Council, which has objected to the plans on the basis that the housing development is not needed at this time to meet the county's house- building figures. The county council argues that the applicants have not shown that there is an overriding need for housing at this time which would make it an exception to the planning rules. However, Waverley planning officers have said that at the site "very special circumstances exist to justify an exceptional case". "No reasonable offer has been forthcoming for alternative users of the site and officers consider that it is unlikely that any use other than residential (will come forward)," the report said. "Regard has been had to the overall impact on the Green Belt and the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), and to any benefits or otherwise that the development will bring in terms of appearance of the area. "The development will result in a reduction in the amount of built development on this site and should therefore result in an enhancement of the openness of this part of the Green Belt." Officers recommend that should permission be granted, the applicant should contribute £1.08 million towards the construction of affordable housing elsewhere in the area, £50,000 towards highway improvements and £21,344 towards improving local play facilities.