A MULTI-milion pound new town centre at Wey Hill Fairground is one of the possible development options Haslemere Vision is asking for responses to in its housing questionnaire now out to public consultation.

In some of the housing scenarios proposed for key sites in the town, the Localism group proposes building more new houses than Waverley Borough Council, in order to meet local housing need and the government’s target of building a million homes in England by 2020.

A green space until the late 1940s, the Fairground site is now used as an informal free car park divided between commuters and local shoppers. As one of two tracts of metropolitan common land in the town centre, it is legally protected so any development must be in the interests of the local community.

In 2013, Waverley Borough Council deferred an application to resurface the site to make it a pay-and-display car park in the face of strong local opposition. The deferral was to allow Haslemere Vision to consult with the community on future options.

The three possible development options, Haslemere Vision is now asking for feedback on are to make the site a pay-and-display car park as Waverley has proposed, to return it to a green space with the loss of 145 parking spaces, or to create a new town square.

The group suggests the site could be used for a high-quality development to include new homes, sources of employment and a “destination” to attract visitors, such as a town square.

“The development would be constructed to take advantage of the Fairground’s sloping site with a lower underground level for residential/station parking and an upper level for retail,” option 3 states.

“Housing, retail and community facilities could be built on two sites around a central square. A high quality design could significantly improve the appearance of the site.

“The development of a new ton square is likely to be a multi-million pound project. This would be feasible if it included sufficient housing and retail space to attract a developer.

“The Localism Act 2011 allows the community to take the lead in such a scheme, working in partnership with a housing association or commercial developer.”

Waverley’s latest Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) identifies the High Street car park behind Waitrose and an area of adjoining land including Haslemere Fire Station and car park, as a possible site for 50 new houses. Haslemere Vision has asked residents what they think of building up to 140 new homes there.

The SHLAA notes a property development company, the Haslemere Development Property Company, was established to deliver a mixed-use redevelopment of land around West Street, indicating potential availability subject to agreement with the landowners and interested parties.

In its own site briefing, Haslemere Vision reports the High Street car park has 164 spaces and any development would need to retain at least the same number of public parking spaces and provide additional parking for any housing built on site.

“This is only achievable if the parking is on the lowest level and development occurs above the parking,” the questionnaire states.

Residents are asked to respond to three possible future uses and they can also make comments. Option one proposes part of the site could include retail space, which would reduce the number of new houses but make Haslemere a more attractive shopping destination.

Option two suggests allocating part of the site for employment space while the third suggests building either 50 new houses or up to 140 new dwellings on an upper level development.

Another key town centre site, the Youth Campus at Wey Hill, is identified as a possible site for 31 new houses by Waverley’s, which owns the land.

The long-term leases held by the main users, Haslemere Scouts and GirlGuiding associations, St John Ambulance and the Army and RAF Cadet groups, have expired and negotiations are ongoing with the borough council on whether they can stay.

But the site, which also includes a fencing business and a row of terraced housing, is identified in the SHLAA as a possible site for 31 affordable homes.

The questionnaire suggests it could house many more affordable properties if a three-storey development was built.

The briefing notes the terraced housing on site, which includes some private properties, is likely to remain untouched and WBC has stated “there is no intention to force any of the existing Youth Campus activities to relocate, though they do wish to improve facilities and use of space if possible”.

Residents are asked to respond to two possible housing scenarios and can leave a comment. One option is to build 31 affordable homes, as Waverley proposes, the other option is to build a higher-density three-storey residential development with an emphasis on small affordable properties to take advantage of the site’s proximity to Haslemere station.

Copies of the housing consultation questionnaire have been delivered throughout the town and the deadline for responses is Friday, October 30. Responses can also be made online at www.haslemerevision.org.uk.