NEW locations in and around Haslemere are identified as possible housing sites in the second part of Waverley’s blueprint for future development, due to go out to consultation next Monday (June 12).

Members of Waverley’s Executive agreed the document forming the second and final stage of the council’s new local plan, should go out for consultation until July 24, despite a protest from an opposition councillor.

Farnham Residents member Jerry Hyman objected at Tuesday night’s meeting: “This is not fit for purpose.

“Given the number of outstanding issues it would be pointless to proceeding a waste of public time and money.”

A public inquiry to examine if the first part of Waverley’s draft local plan to build around 10,000 new homes by 2032, is sound, starts at the borough’s Godalming offices, on Tuesday, June 27.

There are now fears it could be scuppered, because a cornerstone of the plan is buildings 2,600 new homes at Dunsfold Aerodrome to meet Waverley’s increased housing target. The borough council’s decision to grant outline consent for an initial 1,800 houses at the airfield is now subject to a judicial review and a planning inquiry, both of which will take place in July.

Planning inspector Jonathan Bore has already raised concern in written questions to Waverley about the lack of supporting evidence in the borough’s part one “core strategy” to underpin proposals to release green belt land to help it meet its increased housing target.

The inspector is also critical of Waverley’s decision to deal with proposals to remove protective landscape designations in part two of the draft local plan, which is not due to be submitted for examination until July 2018.

Proposals by Waverley to strip a wooded area next to Haslemere’s Holy Cross Hospital of its protective landscape designation and potentially open it up for development, are strongly opposed by the town council.

Haslemere Vision, the town group currently drawing up a neighbourhood plan to act as strategic guidance, has asked the council to allocate suitable sites for housing on its behalf.

When part two goes out to consultation next week, residents can respond to five possible new locations submitted in Waverley’s call in for more housing sites earlier this year.

The largest plot is seven acres of land at Grayshurst in Highercombe Lane, followed by a six-acre site at Springfield Farm, in Hyde Lane, Churt, and four acres north west of Holdfast Cottage, in Holdfast Lane.

Smaller suggested sites are at Clammer Hill Road, in Grayswood and Stronsay, and land at Stronsay, Beacon Crescent, in Hindhead.

The five call-in sites have yet to be assessed for suitability, but nine town locations are listed as having been assessed and being “suitable in principle”.

Estimated as being able to deliver 50 new homes, is the six-acre site between the High Street and West Street, which includes Waitrose car park. Other suggested sites:

lAndrews of Hindhead, in Portsmouth Road – 50

lNos. 5-21, Wey Hill – 39

lYouth Campus site in Wey Hill – 31

lLondon Road, Hindhead – 30

lNext to water treatment works in Sturt Road – 20

lNorth of Haslemere Saw Mills, Sturt Road – 20

lBrownscombe House, Hindhead Road – 15

lWest Down, Portsmouth Road, Hindhead – nine

Residents will also be asked what types of development are acceptable in the countryside beyond the green belt to help meet the hefty housing target.

The document states: “It has been acknowledged in the local plan part one it is not possible to meet the housing needs in full within the existing settlement boundaries. Therefore there is a need to reconsider the boundaries of settlements where the required housing cannot be accommodated.”

Also out to consultation is whether Haslemere Hillsides, the wooded hillside south of the High Street, should continue to be protected as part of the setting on the conservation area.

Waverley’s principal planning officer Graham Parrott emphasised the document was at a preliminary stage and the consultation was important opportunity for residents to comment on the housing proposals prior to finalisation.

“Call-in sites have not been assessed and their inclusion doesn’t mean Waverley thinks development there is appropriate,” he said.

At the same meeting, the executive agreed a preliminary charging schedule for contributions developers will pay towards infrastructure.

Mr Hyman objected that the document was also premature as Waverley did not have sufficient supporting evidence. But leader Julia Potts said: “We all agree we need to start to move forward to ensure we implement the community infrastructure levy. We desperately need as much revenue as possible to improve our infrastructure.”

The executive also agreed to grant Waverley planning officers more powers of delegation to determine applications, although former leader Robert Knowles opposed the move, describing it as “a retrograde step”.

Previously, officers were unable to grant planning consent under delegated powers for applications of more than one house.

Officers will now be able to approve applications to build up to 24 houses. If councillors want to bring an application to committee, they will have to notify officers within 21 days.

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

Councillor Stephen Mulliner said: “We can always change it back if we don’t like it,” he said. “This will redouble our level of scrutiny and also redouble the importance of members of the public with concerns getting in touch with us.”