OUTLINE planning permission has been granted for 71 new homes on the last remaining field owned by historic hop-growers, the Tice family, in St George’s Road, Badshot Lea.

The family, working in partnership with developer Devine Homes, plan to develop a seven-acre field between Badshot Lea recreation ground and The Kiln village hall, opposite Little Acres nursery where a separate application for 99 homes is pending a decision.

On Monday, Waverley Borough Council’s joint planning committee consented to the principle of housing on the site as well as a new access linking it to St George’s Road.

The scheme’s final design, layout and scale will be agreed by the borough council at a later stage following further consultation between the developer, residents and council planners.

Devine Homes promises 40 per cent of the new homes will be ‘affordable’ as well as infrastructure improvements including a widened pavement connecting the development to the village centre and 15 parking spaces for users of the recreation ground.

Ray Stedman, a member of the Tice family representing the landowners, said: “The Tice family have owned and farmed at Badshot Lea and Runfold farms from the 1850s to 1972 when the estate was sold.

“They have always adopted a responsible and community approach to their land management and the legacy to this policy can be best demonstrated by their provision of the village hall in the former hop kiln opposite the site.

“The last remaining land holding of the Tice family is the application site which the family have always seen with the potential for residential development, being situated between the recreation ground and the village hall and making a link to both facilities, but maintaining a village development perimeter at St George’s Road.”

Mr Stedman added Devine Homes has worked closely with residents to provide a development that the village and the Tice family “could be proud of”.

Cliff Watts, representing the Badshot Lea Community Association, consented to the principle of development on the site but urged the developer to address issues with its flood risk, design and “unsightly” netting to protect homes from high-flying cricket balls.

He said: “We are fundamentally opposed to greenfield development around our village. However, we do accept that Badshot Lea should grow and our 2013 survey indicated that this site was the least contentious of the available greenfield locations around the village.

“The applicant has agreed to continue to engage with us should the application be successful, and we would seek to influence the overall layout of the site including the location of the new parking area and be promoting a new cottage area to house design.

“This is a one off opportunity to make a positive contribution to the long-term wellbeing of our village and it should not be lost.”

Responding to residents’ concerns, councillors urged Devine Homes to explore alternatives to the safety netting and heed the community’s advice on the design and layout of the development before bringing its final proposals back to council.