Developers win lengthy court battle over estate

Affordable homes are "desperately" needed, said the developer

Greenfield land on the edge of the Surrey Hills will be turned into a large housing estate after developers won a lengthy court battle.

Wates Developments said it was “delighted” to confirm the 146-home development will go ahead at Waverley Lane after a judge threw out Farnham Town Council’s legal challenge.

Wates has said 50 of the new homes would be affordable housing while the local authority criticised the loss of a “special landscape”.

A spokesperson for the council, which took matters to the High Court, said the land would be "lost forever".

'Urgently needed'

The ruling concludes a saga that started in 2014 when Wates first submitted plans for 190 homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

David Brocklebank, executive managing director of Wates Developments, said new homes were "urgently needed", particularly affordable options in areas suffering housing shortages.

The development would also bring a range of wider benefits and amenities for the whole community, he added.

Wates says it will create a 14.6-acre natural green parkland and two new play areas.

It also intends to improve nearby highways and cycle routes, committing more than £5m to community development funding.

The council spokesperson said the local authority was "disappointed" that a "key green space and area of biodiversity" would be built on.