The 'Interim Planning Statement for Hindhead' document has been prepared by Waverley Borough Council to act as a brief for developers making applications in the Hindhead crossroads. The planning statement was due to go before the council's development management committee on Wednesday, May 16, and officers were recommending councillors give it the thumbs up. The creation of the document follows repeated calls for a scheme to manage the future development of Hindhead, as work on the £371 million A3 tunnel scheme begins. Waverley Borough Council originally agreed to draw up the statement after Haslemere town councillors called for a structured approach to development in Hindhead in March this year. The Haslemere Society and John Gibson, who is campaigning to save author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's former home in Hindhead, also expressed strong support for such a scheme. Earlier this month Patrick Haveron, who at the time was Planning Portfolio Holder for Waverley Borough Council, defended the council's timescale for producing the planning statement. At the time he also reassured Haslemere residents that permission would not be given for ad hoc development in Hindhead. In their report to the committee Waverley officers said the A3 Hindhead tunnel had created "a unique opportunity to plan for the future of the area" and describe the planning statement as a "useful tool for developers". The proposed planning statement has been designed to "manage expectations and to assist developers" by provided them with a "framework for decision making". Officers also said planning applications which could prejudice the long term opportunities for the area would need to be "carefully considered". A long-term strategy for the area is currently being developed by the 'Hindhead Together group', which includes representatives from organisations including the National Trust, Waverley Borough Council and Surrey County Council. The group aims to make the most of the "community, economic, landscape and ecological benefits of the A3 tunnel scheme". The group would be led over the next three years by a Hindhead Together project co-ordinator, with Waverley contributing nearly £20,000 to the salary for the post over the next three years. The Hindhead Together group will eventually produce a 'vision and plan' for the area, which is expected to be available in about two years time and will involve considerable public consultation. The current planning statement focuses on London Road and the Hindhead crossroads, an area which officers believe is "likely to be under some degree of pressure for development". The document points out that planning applications for Hindhead submitted now may be "premature", because although construction of the tunnel has started, the situation on the A3 remains the same. If the Interim Planning Statement is approved, planning applications for the Hindhead area could be refused on a number of grounds including access to the A3, impact on air quality and the effect on the Wealden Special Protection Area. Plans could also be refused if they would lead to a loss of commercial uses. Until the Hindhead Together vision for the area is completed the current planning statement concludes it is not possible to anticipate whether the loss of commercial uses would be detrimental to the area. The statement also highlights that Hindhead still has "some degree of character" which should not be lost, including several building dating back to the 1920s which still make a contribution to the appearance of London Road. Proposed developments for the area could be considered premature before the publication of the Hindhead Together 'Vision' for the area. In December 2003, Waverley Borough Council agreed a 'Statement of Principles' for the future of the Hindhead area. This statement was presented at the public inquiry on the A3 tunnel in September 2004. Some of the principles supported by this statement included enhancing the Surrey Hills as a "nationally important landscape", looking at ways of attracting tourism to Hindhead, and enhancing the centre of Hindhead.