A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for 36 key workers' homes on land at Sturt Farm, which has twice been withdrawn, has taken a new twist. A housing association has now shown an interest in a similar development in the area, with the co-operation of the landowner, Haslemere businessman Tony Lawson. Downland Housing Association is said to be interested in pursuing the plan, and as part of its preparation for a similar development, has requested a development control consultative forum to take place. Open to the general public, the forum, to discuss the proposed development, has been set for Tuesday, August 29 at Waverley Borough Council headquarters in Godalming. The object of the exercise will be to identify issues, concerns and opportunities before a formal planning application is submitted to the council. Among the organisations which have been invited to speak are Haslemere Town Council; The Haslemere Society, the town's watchdog on new developments; representatives from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONB office; Surrey County Council Highways Authority; the Housing Tenants Group and a resident from Neighbourhood Watch. Also expected to speak is a key worker representative, representatives from Chichester District Council, Lynchmere Parish Council, The Environmental Agency and English Nature. The housing association is expected to be given around 20 minutes to put its case, with those responding to the proposals each given around three minutes to have their say. Anyone who wants to speak, but is not invited to do so, will be able to make written comments to planning officers following the meeting. Their comments will then be fed back to the developers as part of Waverley's negotiations with Downland Housing Association. Since the first planning application was submitted to Waverley Borough Council earlier this year, the authority has been inundated with more than 200 letters of objection from nearby residents. The residents say they are opposed to seeing any such development on land within an AONB. After the withdrawal of the first application on a technicality, a further application, which was also withdrawn, attracted another 234 letters of objection. Angry and frustrated residents say they feel there is no need for the homes, especially within the Green Belt AONB. But a determined Mr Lawson disagrees and has warned he will go "straight to appeal" if his plans are refused. Mr Lawson, who has run his business interests from nearby Longdene House, wants to open up part of the 30 acres of Sturt Farm he has owned for more than three years, to allow key workers to move into properties in the town at a price they can afford. A meeting is expected to take place between Michael Biddiscombe, the chairman of Haslemere Town Council planning and highways committee, and Waverley's director of housing, David January, who is also expected to meet the developer's architect at the Sturt Farm site, both prior to the forum. Members of Haslemere's planning committee were also expected to discuss the matter at their meeting at Haslemere Town Hall last night (Thursday). The meeting in the council chamber at Waverley Borough Council offices in Godalming takes place between 6-30 pm and 8-30 pm.