A GARDEN ‘infill’ plan to demolish outbuildings and build seven two-storey houses near Woolmer Hill School has gone to appeal.

Waverley planners refused the scheme for the housing development on just over half an acre of land at Deerwood in Woolmer Hill Road.

The proposals are for six semi-detached three bedroom two-storey homes and one two bedroom two-storey house.

Eight parking spaces would be provided within the site and nine on the road.

Haslemere Town Council urged Waverley to reject the scheme on the grounds it would have a harmful impact on the landscape character in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The town council also considered it was overdevelopment and would result in a loss of amenity.

Writing in support of the scheme in the design and access statement, Godalming planning consultants D&M said: ‘This proposal is a modest development.

“While the site falls within the countryside beyond the green belt, it is considered the site, due to its siting in close proximity to the built-up area of Haslemere, would not impact on the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside

“The proposal is considered to provide additional good-quality modest family housing in a sustainable manner at a time when the local planning authority does not have an up-to-date Local Plan.

“The provision of a two- bedroom dwelling and six three-bedroom family dwellings would meet one of the key housing type needs.”

Rejecting the plan under delegated powers, Waverley officers stated: “While there are a number of outbuildings on the site, these are reasonably modest in scale and their impact is not comparable to that of seven two-storey dwellings.

“The introduction of seven dwellings in this location would extend the existing cluster of development within the countryside.”