WAVERLEY Borough Council has invested in social housing by voting through a controversial planning application for 262 homes in Godalming, 30 per cent of which are affordable or social housing.

The bid for homes at Ockford Park was voted through by 16 councillors after a three-hour debate last Wednesday, January 9. Two councillors voted against the application, which includes a community hall and parking for more than 500 cars.

More than 100 residents packed out the public gallery and two separate committee rooms to watch councillors debate the proposal by Ashill Land Limited in the Waverley council chamber.

Council officers spent nearly one hour presenting the 189-page submission for the site off Aarons Hill, highlighting the housing mix, which includes 78 affordable homes, planned parks and green spaces, electric vehicle charging points and changes to Eashing Road.

Elizabeth Sims, head of planning at Waverley, said the area had been removed from the green belt and was a “strategic site” which will help the council meet its housing numbers over the next five years.

There has been mounting opposition to the proposals since they were first revealed in July last year, with residents forming a campaign group, signing petitions and holding public meetings to raise concerns. But she said the correct procedure had been followed and that officers had sought external legal advice.

After four public speakers addressed the meeting, committee members spent two more hours debating the application with many saying they supported the principle of development on the site and that justifying refusal at appeal stage would be difficult.