An appeal is underway for retrospective planning permission to use land at Farnham Self Storage on Wrecclesham Hill for storage, including the installation of up to 154 storage containers and associated works.
The application was refused in September on the grounds that it would have an “unacceptable impact on the open and rural character of this part of the countryside” and would be “intrusive and dominant” so diminishing the “intrinsic character and beauty of the open countryside”.
The refusal also stated that the application would be contrary to both the Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework, a claim rejected by the applicant Timothy Brant Coles of Brant Storage and Removals. His appeal states that the application would be “compliant with the requirements of national policy and the development plan and appropriate for the context and setting of the appeal”.
Mr Brant Coles has also refuted the other reasons for refusal, saying that the application is for a piece of “grey countryside” rather than open countryside and the entire site has full previous approval for “commercial use, including storage of batteries and does not exceed the footprint of approved commercial activity”.
He added that the application was actually for 140 containers, consisting of 54 on site and for a proposed further 86 units.
Farnham Town Council objections had focused on traffic concerns and the safety of road users and pedestrians. The council said certain conditions could be imposed if the appeal were allowed.
Further details are available at planning360.waverley.gov.uk:4443/planning/ reference: WA/2023/00375.
