HOUSING allocations for more than 100 new homes on greenfield sites in Waverley’s Local Plan part two have come under heavy fire from town localism group, Haslemere Vision, and scores of residents.

More than 1,000 comments from 597 respondents were received by the borough council to its preferred options consultation on where 11,000 houses need to be built by 2032.

The consultation responses will be considered and used to inform the pre-submission version of the second part of the Local Plan.

Subject to approval at the relevant committee meetings, the planning blueprint will go out for public consultation in October or November, and submitted to the Secretary of State for adoption in February 2019.

The allocation of at least 100 houses in areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) at Longdene House , in Longdene Field and at Scotland Lane’s Red Court Estate, triggered a flood of objections following the launch of action groups to fight the proposals.

Campaigners opposed to the Longdene plan triumphed against the odds after Waverley planners agreed to overturn planning officers’ recommendations to approve up to 28 new houses at Longdene House, in Hedgehog Lane, earlier this month.

Planning committee members backed objections that there were no special circumstances to justify building on greenfield land, as Haslemere could demonstrate it had sufficient sites to meet the 990 homes target that the town has been allocated.

Campaigners opposing the new allocation of at least 50 houses at Red Court Estate, which was sold for £9.5million to developers Redwood earlier this year, also responded to the consultation to protest there were enough brownfield sites in the town to meet the need for more homes.

Haslemere Vision agreed in its response saying: “We do not accept this assertion that the required housing demand requires development on greenfield outside the current developed area.

“Furthermore, many of the sites that are proposed to be allocated lie within the AONB. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in AONBs, which have the highest status of protection.

“The proposed allocations for Haslemere comprise a mix of ‘major’ and ‘non-major’ developments.

“The proposed allocations at Longdene and Red Court total 55 and 50 dwellings, respectively, and can be considered to constitute ‘major developments’.

“A further three sites located within or close to designated land may be considered to be ‘non-major’ developments.

“A number of these sites are in close proximity to each other, which means there is a cumulative risk of significant landscape impact.

“We consider the council’s approach to allocating sites to be inconsistent with the fundamental policy underlying the establishment of designated areas.

“In our opinion, the site allocations should be removed. We do not accept these developments are in the ‘public interest’, or that there are exceptional circumstances, or they comply with the specific NPPF tests.”

Haslemere Vision claims more than the 990 house allocated to the town can be built by 2032, using windfall sites and sites previously rejected by Waverley.

The group highlighted the fact that planning consents have been given for 198 dwellings since April 2013 – but not even commenced – excluding the 132 approved at Sturt Farm on AONB land.

Haslemere Vision recommends building more than the 20 new homes allocated for the former Haslemere Prep School site in Hill Road, which lies within the Hillsides protection area.

The group said as it was in a very central location, which is already extensively developed, re-development could be achieved “without further harm to the views of the hillside”, because the school buildings currently on the site are so extensive.

Haslemere Vision proposes development of the part of the site adjacent to Hill Road for four to five houses and using the rear of the site to accommodate up to 40 flats in a building “of similar massing as the existing buildings”.

Access to the site could be from Hill Road and Old Haslemere Road.

The group also recommends the High Street car park site, behind Waitrose, could accommodate 50 houses rather than the 30 allocated.

It proposes a “creative solution”, which would provide 50 dwellings, some employment space and retain sufficient on-site parking for shoppers.