AN application has been made to develop a £3m commercial enterprise centre at the Coxbridge Estate in Alton Road, Farnham.

Up to 30 small business and light-industrial units could be incorporated within the 25,000 square foot centre.

The 15-acre site, a former sandpit just off the Coxbridge roundabout, has previously been permitted commercial usage.

A decision from Waverley Borough Council on the preliminary application is expected within the next few months.

After this, detailed designs of the site, buildings, and its facilities including a cafeteria, cash point and dry cleaners, will then be submitted.

If the plans are approved, development of the enterprise centre is anticipated to begin next summer and associated buildings would continue to be phased in until 2007.

A traffic study relating to site acknowledged that attention to road access would have ot be dealt with, as it is located at an already busy stretch of the A31.

The land is owned by the Ellis Campbell Group, who have been involved with the development of the award winning Lion and Lamb Yard and Borelli Yard in Farnham.

Bill Baxter, of Robert Shaw Surveyors, who are behind the planning of the site, said: ÒThis is a major development, though the building has not yet been designed. It will be two-storey, and is created in line with the local plan.Ó

Alan Taylor, of Bellamanda Investments, who are acting as development consultants, added: ÒThe enterprise centre is intended to be flexible for small businesses who do not want to take long leases.

ÒIt will be similar to a centre in Bramley, but larger.

ÒWith mixed use, for several months it may be a workshop, at other times office space, and potentially up to 30 units could be created there - depending on how much space occupiers take up.Ó

He said the landscaping for the site and all its service provision could cost in the region of £1.5 million.

He was Ònot expecting the application to be contentiousÓ as he believed it fell within local planning guidelines.