THE Hogs Back Brewery’s award-winning hop garden has been granted a stay of execution after councillors refused planning permission to build more than 250 homes in its place.

Developer Gleeson Homes had sought outline planning permission to build up to 254 homes on a 32-acre greenfield site forming part of the Manor Farm estate known as ‘The Tongham Triangle’.

This included an area leased to the Hogs Back Brewery, on which it planted its first hop garden in 2014 and produced its first significant yield only last year.

However, Guildford Borough Council’s planning committee dismissed the application after councillors expressed concern about access to the site from The Street, Tongham, as well as noise and air pollution from the A31 running along the southern edge of the site.

The decision went against the recommendation of Guildford’s planning officers, who praised Gleeson’s plans as sustainable development.

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Waverley Borough Council, which has also been asked to rule on the application as it straddles the borough boundaries, is yet to reach a decision.