LEADING Farnham architects have called on Berkeley Homes to re-imagine the "pretend architecture" of its current plans for The Woolmead in favour of a more contemporary, forward-looking design.

The developer’s revamped plans to replace Farnham’s great unloved 1960s shopping precinct in East Street with a mix of 138 new homes above 11 shops and restaurants is awaiting determination by Waverley Borough Council - with the deadline for public comments set to expire tomorrow (Friday).

Ahead of this deadline, award-winning architect Michael Blower, a former Mayor of Waverley and vice-president of the Farnham Society, has criticised the scheme as "pretending to be something that has been there 200 years" and has set out his own vision for a more modern, environmentally-friendly Woolmead.

This suggests scrapping the scheme’s retail element in favour of a 100 per cent residential development, offering broadly the same housing mix proposed by Berkeley but spread across three buildings instead of one.

These three residences would be separated by two "profusely planted" courtyards, with each adorned with "more appropriate" flat roofs and central staircases leading to a striking rooftop greenhouse where residents would be encouraged to grow their own produce and socialise.

Mr Blower’s scheme would also be elevated around one-and-a-half metres above street level, with a brick wall and holly hedge surrounding the entirety of the development - creating "a complete oasis within the site" and allowing for under-croft car parking reminiscent of Gostrey House in Union Road.

As a prominent Lib Dem councillor for more than 20 years, Mr Blower was part of the group at Waverley Borough Council who, under the leadership of Brian Sell, advanced plans for the redevelopment of The Woolmead and East Street area in the early 1990s. This, he said, was held up after "the commercial side got involved" - but he believes he still has a "legitimate right" to comment on the future of the site, and hopes his plans will give today’s councillors food for thought.

His views also chime with those of another prominent local architect, Mark Westcott, who in a letter to this week’s Herald criticises Berkeley’s rejection of advice by independent design review panel Design South East (D:SE) to take "a more ambitious approach" to the redevelopment of The Woolmead.

Quoting respected architectural critic Ian Nairn’s comments that mock-architecture risks "devaluing the real thing", Mr Westcott added: "The Berkeley Homes’ poor quality pastiche proposal for The Woolmead is phoney architecture of the worst sort."

David Howell, chairman of the Farnham Society’s planning committee, has also expressed disappointment at Berkeley’s proposals, sharing the view that the developer has "missed a huge opportunity".

He described the proposals as "not exceptional"and criticised the "overbearing" height of the three to four storey scheme, as well as the mix of traditional and contemporary design, and lack of "trees and other planting on East Street".

"Our other main concern was the impact of the redevelopment on air quality both during the construction phase and on occupation," continued Mr Howell. "There is no question that additional vehicle movements will result from the proposals, with parking for 140 cars and 10 shops requiring deliveries."

To comment on the plans, visit www.waverley.gov.uk/planning and search for reference WA/2018/0458.