THE threat posed to Farnham and its surrounding countryside by unrestricted development will be made clearer next week during public hearings between the Government Inspectorate and Waverley Borough Council.

Waverley submitted its draft core strategy to the Secretary of State in January earlier this year, proposing to build 230 new homes in the borough each year until 2028. Thirty-six per cent of these homes are earmarked for Farnham and its surrounding countryside – a higher percentage than any other town in Waverley.

However, planning inspector Michael Hetherington has expressed "serious concerns" that Waverley had not complied with its duty to co-operate with neighbouring authorities and has not proposed building enough new homes, requesting more time to determine if Waverley's blueprint is fit for purpose.

This process will include key hearings with the borough council.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.