WAVERLEY Borough Council’s refusal of a planning application for almost 100 new homes on a 29 acre greenfield site off the Six Bells roundabout has been upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

The application by PLOT (Farnham) LLP to build 97 homes - including 29 ‘affordable’ - on land shared with the Farnham Park Hotel at Hale Road was refused by the council on February 28, 2017 amid widespread public opposition.

This decision was appealed by the developer. But following a five-day public inquiry this January and February, government-appointed planning inspector Clive Hughes issued his decision in favour of Waverley on Tuesday.

Mr Hughes determined that the development would result in “considerable harm to the character of the area” and would be contrary to policies in both the Local Plan and Farnham Neighbourhood Plan, with the site falling outside of the Farnham Built-Up Area Boundary as defined in the town plan.

It represents a significant victory for both newly-adopted documents - but particularly the Neighbourhood Plan amid fears that the community-led planning blueprint had been undermined after Waverley upped Farnham’s housing target, requiring an early review.

In addition, the inspector also concluded that Waverley has a five year supply of housing and that it would be “quite unreasonable” not to accept the findings of the Local Plan inspector on this - as contended by PLOT (Farnham) LLP at appeal.

Responding to the inspector’s ruling, Waverley leader and Upper Hale councillor, Julia Potts, said: “I am delighted that the council has won this decision and that Waverley’s recently adopted Local Plan Part 1 is already having a positive effect.

“It is clear from this appeal that the adoption of the Local Plan and the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan, together with a five year supply and a process in place to deliver the required housing over the plan period, all contributed to this appeal being dismissed.

“This is an extremely important appeal decision for Waverley as it sends a very strong signal that any development in the borough needs to take account of the council’s planning policies.

“We hope this sends the message to applicants that Waverley has a plan-led approach to planning that does not involve ad-hoc development in the countryside.”

The decision also comes just a month after Waverley’s new portfolio holder for planning, Tory councillor for Weybourne and Badshot Lea, Christopher Storey, expressed confidence that the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan will “kill” five upcoming appeals for more than 500 homes in the town area, despite councillors agreeing Waverley’s new higher housing target.