WAVERLEY planners have rejected the latest design for the 45 houses due to be built off Midhurst Road. Planners dubbed the design as "Lego-like" and suitable only for children's television characters, such as Pc Plod and Postman Pat. Waverley borough planners gave Gleeson Homes Ltd the go-ahead to build the houses in February but rejected their latest design at the development management committee meeting last Wednesday. Councillors were not only concerned about the "poor design" but also the high number of trees that would have to be felled, and the impact of the buildings on Haslemere. Carole Cockburn said: "It is not even remotely an attempt to design a house." She said the design looked like something she could have put together herself with Lego, or a set on a children's television programme. "With the best will in the world this is going to look awful," she said. "Not these ones, please." Andy Rayner added that the houses looked purpose-built for Postman Pat and Pc Plod. He said: "This is out of keeping with the vernacular of Haslemere." Other concerns voiced by councillors included worries about the 38 trees set to face the chop if they agreed to the design. Waverley also received 50 letters of objection from residents. Nigel Quick, a representative from The Haslemere Society, spoke out against the application, describing the layout as "crude". He said: "This detailed design is wholly unacceptable to the people of Haslemere. "It threatens mature trees of the highest quality.". "This is an absolute outrage. Gleeson can do better than this. It's not worthy of this dramatic site." Michael Biddiscombe, chairman of Haslemere Town Council planning and highways committee, said the parish council was concerned about the effect "box-like" houses would have on the character of Haslemere, as well as objecting to the destruction of trees. David Inman said: "I grieve for Haslemere. I think this is dreadful. Anything we can do for Haslemere to minimise it at this stage, I think we should. I would be very keen to see that the minimum number of trees are allowed to be felled." He added: "Replaced trees take time to become worthy successors." Councillors also expressed concerns about the 14 affordable houses, which it was planned to build together in the design. Councillors were worried about creating "ghettos" of low-cost housing. Councillor Pat Frost said: "It's no good bemoaning the fact that we have got all these houses, because it has been granted. "Haslemere does deserve better. I would like this to go back to the developer to say 'Look, you can do better. Come up with something that is much more in keeping with Haslemere and what we expect in Waverley'." The application was rejected for being out of keeping with Haslemere, and lacking in design variety. It was also criticised for the loss of trees and the design having not dealt with the impact of cars on the site.
