WAVERLEY planning officers have faced further criticism after removing two conditions of the planning consent for a controversial new care home to the rear of the Bourne Mill antiques centre.

A Government planning inspector granted outline planning consent for a 70-bed care home and 16 new homes in July 2013 - after a delay in bringing the “complex” application to committee allowed the developer Smile Metro to appeal against the council’s non-determination.

This gave Waverley’s western planning committee little choice but to consent to a detailed application for the development in November 2014 - despite a number of councillors expressing concerns about the care home’s “nasty” appearance and “lethal” access on the A325/Water Lane roundabout.

The committee was able to add a number of strict conditions to the planning application - governing the scheme’s use of materials, renewable energy sources, its construction phase and more.

But officers have now seen fit to remove two of these conditions, without the developer’s compliance or the express consent of councillors.

These required Smile Metro to adhere to strict sustainable design and construction measures, and for at least 10 per cent of the development’s energy consumption to be met through renewable technology.

Explaining the decision, case officer Rachel Kellas confirmed the latest proposal is “in effect, a fresh application for the entire development”, but added as construction has already commenced “it would therefore be inappropriate and unreasonable to revisit the principle of the entire development”.

She accepted the developer’s argument that the two conditions would pose an “undue burden” on the development, adding policies in the emerging Local Plan governing sustainable construction and design “are not absolute requirements but matters that will be encouraged”.

The decision has been criticised by Farnham Residents councillor and former Mayor of Farnham, John Ward, who was a member of the committee that agreed the conditions in October 2014.

Mr Ward said: “I am surprised and disappointed that the officers have agreed to remove these conditions which were thoroughly discussed and very much supported by the committee.

“It seems to be common practice in Waverley for officers to modify committee imposed conditions using their delegated powers. I have for some time objected to this and will do so again vigorously.”

Mr Ward also expressed his support for Farnham Town Council, which prior to the officers’ decision, said Smile Metro’s latest application would “undermine the design and sustainability of the development”.

The town council added: “The conditions agreed at the time of the development were important in ensuring quality of design and use of renewable energy and the reasons for applying them still stand.”