LOCAL Liberal Democrats are investigating the process which led Waverley councillors to choose Sainsbury's and its developer partner Crest Nicholson for the job of redeveloping East Street.
Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South West Surrey Simon Cordon told The Herald his party will not agree what form of action they will take until the end of the week.
But he outlined his party's position in a statement.
"We are very concerned that the selection process has not been fair and equitable and that, at best, the figures are woolly," he said.
"As a result we are looking at ways in which the decision can be challenged, in the interests of both Waverley and Farnham, along these grounds."
Asked to respond, a Waverley spokesman said: "We have carried out an in-depth process and we have complied with it. That process was agreed by all 57 councillors."
Captain Peter Burden, the Waverley councillor who holds the portfolio for the East Street regeneration programme, declined to comment.
News of the Lib Dems' pending investigation comes as The Herald completed its straw poll of the six developers who were shortlisted for the redevelopment, but not selected as Waverley's "preferred partner".
Last week, we reported concerns about the developer selection process from Friends Ivory Sime, the Sellar Property Group and The Raven Group.
But there was little criticism from the Grainger Trust, Countryside Properties and Wilson Bowden when The Herald contacted them this week.
The only words of complaint came from the Grainger Trust.
Spokesman Sean Slade said: "We acknowledge that the decision-making process is a thankless task. Although we believe that we had the the most appropriate scheme, we haven't succeeded and we accept that.
"However, in addition to our presentation to the council, it would have been very useful to have had a one-to-one interview with the professional consultants so that we could have ensured that our bid, both in terms of design and financial offer, was fully understood.
"I would hope that Sainsbury's/Crest were not treated as a 'special purchaser'. One of our proposals would have relocated the Sainsbury's on site and would have allowed for comprehensive redevelopment of the whole site."
Tim Hall Wilson, head of public relations and marketing at Wilson Bowden, said: "We don't have any comment."
And Joe Godfrey, of Countryside Properties, also had no comment other than to say: "We were disappointed not to have been chosen, but it was the council's decision at the end of the day."
Both he and Tim Hall Wilson said they had no complaints about the selection process.
p Waverley Council's property adviser Cluttons has confirmed that Sainsbury's finished scheme will be worth £100 million.
Richard Cresswell, of Cluttons planning and development department, said the £100 million figure related to the value of the buildings, rather than any receipts the scheme could generate.
Mr Cresswell added: "Not only is the redevelopment of part of Farnham town centre the largest mixed-use scheme in an historic market town within the south-east of England, as far as we know, but it is also fully in line with the government policy on developments of this sort.
"Commercial, residential, leisure facilities and community uses are all being included."
Cluttons is providing planning and development advice to Waverley on the 13.4 acre site.