An overgrown garden in North Farnham has become the centre of a planning battle as a scheme to replace a single home in Upper Hale with seven new houses has been lodged.

On one side there is Beaufoy Homes, the firm behind a “high-quality” and “well-designed” plan to transform the Foxdene Site on 108 Upper Hale Road.

The Woking-based firm wants to demolish the existing property and the “dilapidated” outbuilding in its overgrown garden to make way for seven homes.

Five of the properties will have three bedrooms with the others having one and two apiece, with 14 parking spaces also part of the application.

“The site consists of overgrown private garden, dilapidated outbuilding and run down two storey dwelling attached to number 110 Upper Hale Road,” states the applicant’s Design and Access Statement.

“The objective is to deliver a high-quality, well-designed development that respects the local urban grain while also making best use of the neglected land.

108 Upper Hale Road AAP Architecture
The driveway to the existing property will lead to five houses, with two close to Upper Hale Road, if plans are approved. (AAP Architecture) (AAP Architecture)

“We have taken inspiration from the surrounding area, incorporating design elements and materials that reflect the character of Upper Hale.

“The scale and appearance of the dwellings have been meticulously designed to blend seamless with the local architectural vernacular.”

One letter of support has been lodged with Waverley Borough Council at the time of writing with Farnborough Road resident Karen Jesse calling it a “good quality plan”.

She added: “The site has been in disrepair for several years now and it would be lovely to see some new smart family homes to enjoy this area.”

But a dozen objections have also been submited amid concerns on matters from traffic, access and density to loss of privacy and trees.

One objector called the scheme “overdevelopment” and claimed the area would be “irreversibly altered” if approval was granted.

He wrote: “The proposed construction would significantly change the character of the neighbourhood, replacing valuable green space with overcrowded housing that doesn't fit with the surrounding environment.”

This planning application is a gross overdevelopment,” wrote nearby resident Christopher Fisher.

“To build seven dwellings in the space of one property is not feasible. Hale is a small village on the outskirts of Farnham and cannot take a development of this magnitude.”

The scheme is likely to come before the WBC Planning Committee, for more details or to comment search for WA/2025/02496 after following the search applications link at www.waverley.gov.uk