AS Fernhurst braces itself for an amended scheme for the former Syngenta site, The Herald can reveal that revised planning application for 400 homes was expected to be submitted this week. At the same time, alternative proposals for a smaller residential development, plus a 250-bed hotel and 93-bed care home, are also being submitted by the London-based developer, Comer Homes. Mark Lees, the head of the design team for the proposed development told The Herald that a public exhibition would be held in the village within the month to discuss the current proposals for the 100-acre site in the beauty spot on the outskirts of the village, which also lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, (AONB). "We are issuing the amended scheme to Chichester District Council, CDC today," Mr Lees told The Herald on Wednesday. The plans which were due to be submitted more than a month ago, have since been the subject of a number of meetings between the relevant bodies. "There is one (application) purely for a residential development of 400 homes and one for a part- residential scheme with a hotel and care home," he said. Included in the scheme for the hotel and care home are independent-living accommodation units, the likelihood of a small shop within the hotel development, provision for residents who wish to eat in the hotel, plus a health club and medical facility. While Mr Lees claimed that Chichester District Council's tourism and leisure department supported a hotel, which would provide more opportunities for rural jobs, he said it had not found favour with some officers on the district council. He claimed that there was also disagreement on the style of architecture relating to the former planning applications. "They thought it was too grand but were not against the principle for development," said Mr Lees, who admitted that he had been "slightly surprised" by the criticism. "We have looked at Petworth House and come up with a simplified version of our proposals," Mr Lees added. The amended plans, he explained, provided some realignment where the current buildings are removed, and a change in the architectural style." "The second thing is the affordable housing element; it is a brownfield site and we want to get rid of the current car-parking area and create landscaped grounds with a building of high architectural quality." At the edge of the site, Mr Lees said there were plans for a small number of social, rented homes made up of eight family houses within a crescent. The developers were also looking for around 30 per cent of the total number of units for affordable homes. Some, he said, would be key-worker accommodation, which could be shared ownership. "Part of the development would be starter units where there would be less of a service charge." Commenting on the level of developer's contributions from Comer Homes, which had already promised some £2.7 million for road improvements and the provision of buses, providing the district council allowed both the hotel and car home element, he said: "It will reflect the level of public infrastructure we put in - it is a simple economic equation." Mr Lees said that Comer Homes would be meeting a number of agencies to discuss the current plans, including Martlett Homes, Fernhurst Parish Council and other local action groups. "We are looking to hold an exhibition next month. We are moving forward now and getting some sort of consensus and tying up the loose ends," said Mr Lees, who spoke of the efficiency and helpfulness of the deputy chief executive of CDC, Sam Howes, over the development plans. He added: "We are very keen on the local community getting some benefit and having a say in the proposals." Mr Howes said in a statement to The Herald this week that a number of meetings have taken place between officers of CDC and the site owner and his agent. "During these meetings, officers have explained the planning position to Comer and commented on the scale and type of development proposed, and also on the architectural treatment." With little difference to the actual numbers of homes or type of development planned for the site, Fernhurst Parish Council and some residents are likely to be up in arms over the proposals. At its annual meeting last month, Fernhurst Parish Council spoke of its fears over any major development plans for the site, which was once the home of ICI Plant Protection and later Syngenta. Iain Brown, the chairman of the parish council's planning committee, said it would "have a serious effect on the infrastructure of both the village and Haslemere". He labelled the plans as "not appropriate to this rural location within the AONB." He said that the whole scheme appeared "to contravene all planning guidance relating to the AONB. "It is too large and is difficult to see how it could be located within the existing office block, with some housing provision on the remainder of the site." In Haslemere, the proposals are also likely to cause concern. Mike Biddiscome, the chairman of Haslemere Town Council planning committee, said that plans for the site had been discussed a number of times. "Personally speaking, I am concerned about what it may do in terms of traffic on the A286, which would congest Haslemere even more." He added that he too was worried about how it would affect the infrastructure of Fernhurst. He predicted that it could have a knock-on effect on Haslemere for people who want to travel to the town's railway station. He would, however, welcome plans to include "a useful quantity of affordable housing."