PLANNING watchdog The Farnham Society has called for a ban on development in areas where air quality is shown to be exceeding legally acceptable levels, in its response to Waverley’s Local Plan part two.

More than 1,000 comments from 597 respondents were received by the borough council to its preferred options consultation on where 11,000 houses need to be built by 2032.

Responses will be used to inform the pre-submission version of the second part of the Local Plan. The planning blueprint is expected to go out for public consultation in October or November, and submitted to the Secretary of State for adoption in February 2019.

Responding to the consultation, The Farnham Society recognised that the plan acknowledges the issue of air quality, but refers only generally to “unacceptable pollution” and not causing deterioration by potential pollution.

The society instead recommends a new policy, “in view of the seriousness” of the issue, stating: “In Air Quality Management Areas and in other areas where air quality monitoring shows that air pollution is above legal levels, development which might add to such air pollution, directly or indirectly will in general not be permitted.”

On policy ‘DM26’, regarding development within town centres, the society states: “No mention is made of the very serious issue of traffic-induced air pollution… and the breaching of statutory pollution levels in Farnham. This is a planning issue and needs to be addressed in this Local Plan and not simply ignored.”

Farnham Town Council raised further issues with the plan’s approach to air quality, commenting that by allocating an additional 450 homes to Farnham, an area with worsening air quality, “Waverley Borough Council appears to be ignoring its own policy”.

Commenting specifically on policy ‘DM1’, regarding the environmental implications of development, the town council states: “Developers must not only provide mitigation for any harm but must also provide evidence that any mitigation is effective. Data on air quality must be closely monitored.”

It also emerged that the new owners of The Bush Hotel in The Borough are pursuing plans to build 29 apartments on the site of the hotel’s car park, after missing the deadline to promote its site through the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan, instead seeking formal allocation within the Local Plan part two.

Another developer, PLOT Farnham LLP submitted a detailed seven-page response, after its plans for 100 homes next to the Farnham Park Hotel off Hale Road were refused at appeal in March.

It added that in the event that the Neighbourhood Plan, currently undergoing to an early review to meet the borough’s inflated housing target, should falter “the council must step in through the Local Plan part two and take control of the allocation process”.

Numerous Elstead residents objected to the plan, and specifically its allocation of two development sites accommodating an additional 60 homes in Hookley Lane, coming at the expense of a preferred housing site at Sunray Farm. Infrastructure providers have also responded to the consultation, with the North East Hampshire and Farnham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group commenting that it is “satisfied with the general principles and objectives” of the plan, while calling for “early dialogue” to discuss the “appropriate levels of healthcare infrastructure” needed to provide for the new homes.