Fears 400 new homes could 'swamp' parts of Surrey
Google ImagesA 400-home planning application that "would just swamp" parts of Surrey will be decided during a five-day public appeal hearing.
Developers, Merchant Seaman's War Memorial Society and Thakeham Homes, have taken their Alfold development proposals to the planning inspectorate after Waverley Borough Council failed to rule on the matter.
If approved, the plans would also include up to 120 affordable homes and a communal commercial facility.
Residents have raised concerns about the lack of infrastructure and Thames Water has said the area's network is at breaking point and cannot take any further development without upgrades.
The area suffers flooding and sewage leaks as the antiquated system is prone to failing in storm periods, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Waverley Borough Council is open to speculative development, but it will argue at the inquiry that the harm this project would do outweighs the need to build homes.
The current application has received 285 letters from concerned parties, all except one have been opposed to the plans.
There are concerns for the lack of supporting infrastructure with the water system, electricity, doctors and schools.
'Simply cannot cope'
Many also commented on traffic congestion and the overdevelopment of the rural area.
Councillor Julian Spence, Liberal Democrat for Hindhead & Beacon Hill, told the planning committee on 13 May: "The development would just swamp Alfold and Alfold simply cannot cope.
"I will have absolutely no trouble at all in supporting its refusal."
Thames Water was asked for its opinion on the application, as it would need to connect any new houses to its network.
It said the village cannot accommodate additional development without upgrades.
It said no homes should be occupied until there was enough drainage capacity and that the foul water network could not currently meet the proposal's needs.
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