THE fate of the much-maligned Woolmead shopping precinct is set to be decided this week with councillors poised to rule on plans to replace the current building with a new block of shops, restaurants, bars and almost 100 homes.

Waverley Borough Council’s joint planning committee will meet on Tuesday, July 5, to determine an outline application by Woolmead owners F&C REIT to demolish the 1960s concrete relic and replace it with a predominantly brick, three storey building containing a mix of eight retail units and 96 one to three bed flats.

It comes after F&C redesigned its proposed scheme to reflect the “traditional forms” of Farnham following a public consultation in April last year, in which the development’s design and external elevations were criticised by some residents as “too modern”.

Council officers have recommended councillors grant consent to F&C’s latest plans, subject to the developer paying ‘infrastructure contributions’ towards highways improvements, early years and secondary education, recycling, playing pitches and equipment, as well as the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA).

The principle of the proposed development and its new access are the only matters formally up for discussion at this week’s meeting, with ‘reserved matters’ such as the building’s appearance, landscaping, layout and scale to be determined at a later stage.

F&C proposes a mix of 16 one-bedroom flats, 70 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom - but no affordable housing which it says “would not be viable given the constraints of the site”.

It also proposes 186 basement parking spaces for residents including several Electric Vehicle Charging Points and, further boosting its eco-credentials, has promised to offer to each household a £200 voucher for the purchase of a bicycle or a bus pass.

F&C has also offered £60,000 for improvements to bus stops, as well as £50,000 for “intelligent bus priority and cycling/pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements” within Farnham town centre.

In addition, £61,921 has been set aside for early years and £138,176 for secondary education, £58,000 for playing pitch improvements at Farnham Park, and £54,000 for the replacement and improvement of play equipment in Gostrey Meadow.

F&C will also be required to pay Waverley £227,640 to help mitigate the development’s impact on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

The Farnham Society and Farnham Town Council both support the application, with the latter commenting that it “should be delivered as soon as possible”. Surrey Highways and other statutory consultees have also raised no objections.

However, Waverley’s environmental health officer has warned that the introduction of 100 new homes, their occupants and cars will likely exacerbate Farnham’s air quality issues, and “further compromise the health of those residents living within the most polluted areas“ of the town.

To combat this, Waverley has insisted on a condition to ensure that “should the air quality deteriorate further due to the additional traffic at this location, further mitigation will be required from the developer in order to protect existing and future residents from the subsequent health impacts”.

Despite the concerns over air quality, however, just seven members of the public have written letters to Waverley objecting to the plans compared to three in support, and in her report to council, Waverley planning officer Gemma Paterson doubted the development would result in “a significant level of vehicular movements”.

She also welcomed the scheme’s contribution of 96 much-needed homes in a “sustainable” town centre location and added the new shops, restaurants and bars “would add visual interest to Farnham town centre, contributing to the vitality and viability of the area” as well as “a significant improvement and regeneration of this run down site”.

To view F&C’s application and Ms Paterson’s report in full visit the website www.waverley.gov.uk/planning and search for reference WA/2015/2387.