PLANS by English Rural Housing Association (EHRA) to build 12 affordable homes in Hambledon to meet local housing need have been refused by Waverley planners.

An application to build 17 houses at Orchard Farm, including an “enabling development” of five market houses to finance the provision of 10 rented properties together with two shared ownership, dwellings triggered 182 objections and the public gallery was packed when planners met to determine the proposal.

Objectors protested the scheme was too big and would harm the character of the countryside, which is green belt and an area of outstanding natural beauty. They also voiced concerns it would exacerbate existing drainage problems.

Historic England considered the scheme would cause “some harm” to the significance of nearby Tigbourne Court but left it to Waverley to weigh the harm against the perceived public benefit of affordable housing.

The Lutyens Trust objected because, it said, it would damage the setting of three listed buildings designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Planning officers recommended to Waverley’s central area planning committee that permission should be granted but committee members voted overwhelmingly the plan should be refused.

Waverley housing enabling team had supported the scheme as “the most suitable site in the context of the limited land available for development of a rural exception site in Hambledon” and noted it offered a new public open space gifted in perpetuity to the village.

Hambledon Parish Council also spoke out in support of the scheme in the public slot before the application was determined, having originally opposed it.

Parish council chairman John Anderson said: “The parish council has always supported the provision of affordable housing. It has withdrawn its earlier objection as the borough council is satisfied with the drainage scheme and is able to support the application subject to a section 106 agreement.

Urging the committee to grant consent in the public slot, ERHA representative Nick Hughes said: “ERHA has built 14 affordable housing schemes in Waverley in rural exception sites. The need for affordable housing has always been recognised and a local need has been identified, which this proposal supports.

“Opportunities are few and far between and this is a sustainable rural application. Priority will be given to local people and this is a rare and exciting opportunity.”

Calling on the committee to refuse the plan in the public slot, a representative speaking for “a large number of Hambledon and Witley residents”, objected: “This is not small scale in the context of Hambledon. ERHA originally wanted to build six affordable homes but it acquired the entire farm. This development stretches way beyond the previously developed area.”

A spokesman for another group of local objectors was clapped by residents seated in the public gallery when she protested in the public slot it was “beyond unreasonable to drain water from the site into a neighbouring parish” without an effective mitigation plan in place.

Objectors were not satisfied the revised drainage plans would satisfactorily address their concerns. They were worried Surrey Highways would not be able to clear the ditches more regularly to ensure the new scheme worked.

Drainage concerns were also voiced by several committee members. Hambledon borough councillor Nick Holder was clapped by the public gallery when he said: I propose this application be deferred and a smaller plan submitted with a definite maintenance contract for drainage.”

However, Mr Holder was informed that the proposal could only be decided upon in its current form.