A MYSTERY developer is believed to be preparing a planning application for the largest single housing development in the Farnham area in the countryside south of Badshot Lea.

According to the Badshot Lea Community Association (BLCA), plans are afoot for 350 homes on land sandwiched between Squire’s Garden Centre, St Georges Road and the A31.

If true, the application would add to the deluge of homes already planned in the Badshot Lea area.

It would also usurp the Farnham area’s current largest applications - Gleeson’s bid for 254 homes opposite the Hogs Back Brewery in Tongham and the 140 homes pending an appeal decision in Lower Weybourne Lane.

A spokesman for the BLCA said: “We were contacted some weeks ago by a developer wishing to inform us of a proposed development. We agreed to meet them but made it very clear that we were totally opposed to any green field development around our village.

“On Thursday, September 1, we met with the development team and they outlined their plan for approximately 350 homes.

“They tried to convince us that their development would be good for Badshot Lea. However the few positives they mentioned would be totally outweighed by the addition of another 700 plus cars on our roads.”

It is understood the developer, which has not been named, is planning a community event sometime in October where it will give everybody an opportunity to comment on the plan.

However, it faces an uphill battle as the proposed development site falls outside of the built-up area boundaries defined by the emerging Farnham Neighbourhood Plan and is therefore deemed inappropriate for new housing by the key planning policy document.

The BLCA spokesman continued: “We have worked closely with Farnham Town Council over the last few years to bring together the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan.

“Within this plan it is accepted that Badshot Lea should grow through development on Tices Field and the Little Acres/Caffyn Parsons sites. There are also two sites off Lower Weybourne Lane/Green Lane.

“Although this may not be ideal it does limit the development around Badshot Lea for the next 15 years. Without the Neighbourhood Plan we are open to endless speculative proposals as illustrated by this new development.”