Farnham Rugby Club could train on a floodlit 5G pitch next to a new retirement village in Badshot Lea if an ambitious application is given the green light.

But town councillors say the outline application by Lamron Estates for land west of Green Lane is “confused” and have strongly objected as too many questions need to be answered.

There’s been a scrum of interest in the “mosaic of small fields” to the south of the new Taylor Wimpey estate.

A retirement village with 12 two-bedroom bungalows and a 70-unit care home is proposed for the northern half of the site. A two-storey unit with 20 one-bedroom apartments is also proposed along with a club house, bowling green, tennis court and village green with pond.

A further 17 open market homes with a mixture of one to four bedrooms are proposed for the southern portion along with a floodlit all-weather 5G artificial grass rugby pitch.

The pitch would be built by Lamron but leased to Farnham RFC at a peppercorn rent for 125 years, providing the club with all-year access to playing and training in all weather.

The club are “wholly supportive of the application” as it will help them to thrive at all levels.

Badshot Lea Green Lane
The site off Green Lane is currently open land. (Google)

“It will help preserve and permanently extend the green wedge in an area that is becoming increasingly urbanised,” said the club’s president and director, Geoff Robins, adding that Farnham RFC has doubled in size over the last ten years.

But while they have noted the club’s support for the outline scheme, Farnham Town Council have “strongly objected” as they want clarification about several aspects of the scheme.

They want more information on drainage and flooding mitigation, sewage infrastructure, parking provision and the impact of the development on local roads and highways. They also have questions about access to the pitch – which would seemingly go through the estate and the Taylor Wimpey site – and have noted the omission of a pylon and powerlines on the site.

The council have also provided the applicants with reasons why a previous outline scheme for up to 61 houses on the site was refused on 2023, as the “History and Constraints” document was missing when FTC reviewed the application at their July 13 meeting.

“It’s a confused application,” said Cllr Andrew Laughton, head of FTC’s Planning and Licensing Consultative Group, during last Thursday’s full town council meeting.

“They’re trying to shoehorn an awful lot of stuff into a small space. We’re seeking clarifications.

“It’s going to be at least October or November before it gets to planning but there’s been at least 100 comments, about half objecting and half in support.”

Most of the objections cite access and loss of green space while supporters say it will offer sporting and recreational facilities in addition to housing.

Residents have until next Wednesday (August 12) to comment with a decision due in late September.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

For more details or to comment search for WA/2026/01125 via the ‘search planning applications’ link at www.waverley.gov.uk