Waverley Borough Council has approved the scheme to build a country house estate on the site of the derelict Nutbourne Brickworks in Roundals Lane.
Members of the Central Area Planning Committe were unanimous in their approval when they met to consider the application by Millgate Homes on Wednesday (May 25th).
The developers had applied to build a mansion house, staff cottages, a gate house, stables and garages on the 220-acre site. Nearby residents favoured the proposal and Hambledon Parish Council gave its support, but only after securing a covenant that safeguards the site from further development or change of use.
Millgate’s case that there were special circumstances to allow the development to go ahead, despite it being on Green Belt land and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was supported by all the councillors who spoke at the meeting. They had been recommended by their planning officers to approve the application but did so only after first visiting the site. Having seen the dereliction and dangerous state of the brickworks, which closed in 1990, and examined the landscaping proposals and conditions to protect and enhance the environment, councillors said they were persuaded that special circumstances existed and gave their approval.
The development will be on a grand scale with an imposing house, lakes and formal gardens. Millgate said it was a “rare opportunity to design and build a mansion house from the foundations up”. The company has stated that it has a customer for the multi-million pound estate. The new buildings will be concentrated on the footprint of the existing brickworks and the overall area, which contains ancient woodland, will be left undisturbed.
No date has been given for the start of work but under the terms of the covenant Millgate has undertaken to remove the derelict buildings within a year.
For the full history of the planning application and the parish council’s position, please see earlier news items on this website.