A LENGTHY planning battle to build 80 new homes on land at Applegarth Farm, Grayshott, has ended in victory for the owners.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) voted to back their officers and approve a revised outline application for the scheme, subject to 17 conditions, including providing a suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) on site, funding for a community worker and off-site highways works.

The decision followed a two-hour debate at an extraordinary planning committee meeting, and was a complete turnaround to last June, when EHDC supported its officers’ recommendations to refuse an earlier outline application for 80 homes, submitted in 2014.

Officers objected it was a greenfield site outside the settlement policy boundary that would reduce the ‘Local Gap’ between Grayshott and Headley Down.

The application went to appeal and was due to be heard in August, but has now been quashed.

In the interim, however, revised outline plans were submitted that found favour with EHDC officers.

They recommended district councillors should approve the latest plan, because it increased the number of affordable homes from 32 to 44, and would deliver 18 new full-time jobs through the linked expansion of the Applegarth Farm business.

The 80 homes plan is an “enabling development” that will fund a £3.5million scheme to expand the existing restaurant and farm shop and add a rural enterprise centre, a cookery school and playground facilities.

Outline plans were approved last year.

Several committee members noted the parish council’s decision to support the revised scheme.

Speaking in the public slot before the meeting, parish chairman John Frankcom said: “The total package is in the best interests of the community.

“Our overriding concern for more affordable houses takes precedence and the increase is welcomed.”

Grayshott Society chairman Amanda Hadden-Cave spoke out against the plan, branding it a “serious erosion of the important Local Gap, which would set an undesirable precedent”.

Urging the committee to back the plan, Applegarth Farm managing partner Will Benson, whose parents bought the site in 1976, said it was a “piece of land that could do so much good” with nowhere else in Grayshott able to provide the number of affordable homes the village needed.

Also calling for the plan to be approved, district ward member Ferris Cowper, who is also leader of EHDC, said: “This is the only chance in my lifetime to bring an affordable housing solution for people in Grayshott, that would like to live in Grayshott.

“This is not a property-hungry developer but a villager looking to help the village and investing all the money into a business scheme that already has planning consent.

“The whole thing hangs together beautifully.”

Committee members agreed it was a question of balance and whether the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. Bentley Conservative ward member Ken Carter said: “It’s unusual for Grayshott Parish Council not to agree with Grayshott Society and I compliment them for their bravery.

“Sometimes the needs of the many exceed those of the few. The few are the lucky people who live in Grayshott. It’s important we boost Grayshott. We are faced with an exceptional situation which requires an exceptional decision.”

Headley Tory councillor and committee vice-chairman Anthony Williams said: “There are strong policy reasons for not permitting it, namely the Local Gap, but it’s borderline. The application has changed the ratio of affordable housing but not the numbers. The effect of 80 houses in open country still applies.

“When we didn’t have a five-year housing land supply it was difficult to refuse, we had to permit developments and it was not Local Plan led. The way forward is to refuse this.”

But fellow committee members were not convinced the development would “put a stop to the Local Gap”.

The revised application triggered 82 letters of objection and 99 in support.

Horndean Tory councillor David Evans said: “I’m impressed by Grayshott Parish Council’s support and the support from a large number of residents and that should not easily be discounted.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Benson said it was “all systems go” now outline plans for both the business expansion and residential development had been agreed, but it could take almost a year to get off the ground.

“I am absolutely delighted after two-and-a-half years we are now able to move forward and start the process of building something very special at Applegarth,” he said. “Our intent right from the outset was to be able to provide enough land so as to be able to kick start the build of our economic development plan.

“The knock-on effect of this will see new families moving into the area, helping to provide our local businesses with a much needed new customer base.

“If we are ever to alleviate this country’s dire housing need and the very real housing issue that the next generation is already encounter- ing, new sites like this have to be found and realised.

“In this case, we are very fortunate to have owned a piece of land for 40 years that can help this as well as providing what will be a unique, stunning business for the local community.

“Grayshott is a wonderful place to live and work but has had some tough times recently. I hope the village can see the benefits to the whole village of what we are about to move forward with.”