AFTER many months of delays, contracts for the long-awaited Kilnfields redevelopment scheme were due to be signed this week.
Work on the multi-million pound scheme is now expected to start at the end of the month.
In addition to the 45 homes to be provided for Waverley, the owners, Thames Valley Housing Association will provide 20 shared-ownership homes and developers Lovells will sell 33 homes on land at Kilnfields and Weycombe Road.
Housing developers Lovells have submitted a planning application for 17 homes on land at Weycombe Road. The complex project will involve the building of new homes for rent, shared ownership and sale, taking two-and-a-half years to complete in three phases.
The first phase of this development should see 17 new Waverley homes, the sports pavilion and recreation works completed by January 2004.
"We are in the process of informing all our residents living on the wider High Lane Estate that work is due to start later this month," said Dr Genny Lane, Waverley portfolio holder for housing.
"I am very much looking forward to the formal ceremony on Monday, March 10, which will mark the official start of the development.
"This will provide us with the opportunity to celebrate the first stage of this exciting project with the residents of Haslemere."
David Harmer, leader of the council added:"We promised our tenants and home owners at Kilnfields that we would redevelop the site and provide new homes for all our residents, as well as additional, much needed, housing for Haslemere.
"I am confident that with Lovells as our development partner, we can achieve a quality development at the agreed budget."