PLANS to build an 82-flat care home for the elderly, on land at Expedier House in Hindhead, have been recommended for refusal by Waverley planning officers. The application, which also includes associated parking, an access road and landscaping on the Portsmouth Road site, is due to go before members of Waverley Borough Council's development management committee next Wednesday. If approved the proposal would see the existing buildings on the site demolished to make way for the assisted living care home. The flats in the proposed care home would be available on a weekly rented basis and would provide each resident with a lounge and a basic kitchen with a sink and refrigerator – but no cooker or washing machine. The development would be made up of 71 one- bedroom flats and 11 two-bedroom flats. The care home would include communal facilities such as a central kitchen with dining room, treatment room, hair care, library and a laundry. Parking for 27 vehicles would be provided in the same area as the existing car park on the site and the development would result in the loss of a number of trees. The proposals have already created a storm of protest from Hindhead residents, with Waverley Borough Council receiving 41 letters of objection. Residents are objecting to the proposed development for a number of reasons including the demolition of the existing building, loss of trees and the scale of the building, parking problems and increased traffic. However, the highways authority believe the proposed development would lead to an overall reduction in peak hour traffic. In a report to the committee Waverley officers argue the proposed scheme would not create any additional traffic but point out the plans would "involve significant tree loss and potential root damage to trees". Officers also describe the proposed building as being and "larger than any other in this part of Hindhead". Waverley's historic buildings officer has also objected to the plans as having "a damaging effect on the adjacent listed building due to scale and design". The officer believes Expedier House "represents an important moment in Surrey's history" and argues "its demolition would not be considered an environmentally friendly approach". Waverley officers conclude the "level of development proposed is not acceptable on this site and would lead to material harm to the character of the area, to many of the trees on the site". At the same meeting, committee members will also make a decision on plans to build 21 houses on land at Expedier House. The scheme is proposing to demolish all buildings on the site and replace them with five four- bedroom houses, six three-bedroom house, eight two-bedroom houses and two one-bedroom maisonettes. The application would also provide 44 parking spaces, mostly in communal carports and private garages. The highways authority is recommending the applicant should provide £15,000 to be used towards providing pedestrian safety measures, as part of the 'Hindhead Together' initiative. More than 40 Hindhead residents have written to Waverley objecting to the scheme for a number of reasons, including problems with access to Tower Road, increase in traffic and Hindhead being swamped with new developments. Letters of support for the plans claim the scheme is a good design and residential development is preferable to the current use of the land. Developers have also agreed to pay £19,520 towards the improvement of play facilities in the area. Officers conclude the scheme is generally acceptable but "the impact on protected trees is unacceptable or the lack of connectivity between this site and its neighbour" and are recommending the committee give the plans the thumbs down.
