A DEVELOPER has revised plans for a new housing development on a 29-acre site currently occupied by the Farnham Park Hotel off the Six Bells roundabout in Hale Road.

Plot (Farnham) LLP now proposes to build 97 homes at ‘Sumner Heath’, down from 105 previously applied for, as well as increasing the distance from existing homes on Upper Hale Road.

The developer states only five per cent of the entire site will be given over to buildings, with the remainder being gardens, a village green and play areas.

It also proposes to restore 18 acres of currently private grassland on the site as public land “in perpetuity”, recognised in planning policy as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

The revised plans come after the developer held a number of public consultation events this summer.

Its project team subsequently reconsidered the layout of the new homes and designed a new scheme to “respect the privacy of properties along neighbouring roads – Upper Hale Road and Oast House Lane”.

An outline planning application reflecting the amendments is currently pending a decision by Waverley Borough Council.

Dominic Fryer, director for Plot (Farnham) LLP said: “Sixty per cent of the site will be preserved forever as public land. It will protect wildlife and this vast expanse of green space will remain a natural buffer between the built up areas of Hale and Farnham.

“We have carefully considered the views of local people, especially the neighbours along Upper Hale Road. Reducing the number of new homes has allowed us vastly improve the scheme’s relationship with existing properties.

“We hope local people continue to engage with us so we can hear their views and respond to feedback.”

A further consultation event will be held at The Six Bells pub on Saturday, October 22, from 11am to 4pm. To attend, call Sam Holgate on 020 7125 0421 to arrange an individual meeting with the project team.

To view the application in full, visit the website www.waverley.gov.uk/planning and search for reference WA/2016/1323.