A new era for north Farnham is on the horizon after councillors unanimously backed plans for a 20-acre nature park alongside Farnham Park.

Waverley Borough Council has agreed to buy 20.9 acres of land off Hale Road from the Ismaili Trust and transform it into a new public green space.

The deal marks another major chapter in the long-running story of the land, which has been at the centre of development and planning battles for years.

The Ismaili Trust bought the site in 2020 and later secured permission on appeal for a Muslim funeral ceremony building connected to its planned cemetery.

Now, part of its landholding is set to become a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), extending the green space around Farnham Park and providing new opportunities for walking, exercise and recreation.

But the nature park will also play a crucial role in Farnham's future growth.

Waverley says the additional SANG capacity could help unlock between 439 and 532 new homes, including affordable housing, by providing the environmental mitigation required for development around the town.

New housing in much of Farnham must provide or contribute towards alternative green space to reduce pressure on the protected Thames Basin Heaths.

Councillors backed the purchase at a full council meeting on Tuesday, September 8, following a lengthy debate over its environmental, housing and financial implications.

Cllr Peter Clark described the acquisition as “critical”, warning that without sufficient SANG capacity, planning permissions could be delayed or prevented, potentially affecting the borough's housing supply and the delivery of affordable homes.

Cllr Carole Cockburn said residents had fought for two decades to keep the area green and described the site as an important part of the wider green corridor around Farnham Park.

Cllr Merryweather said increasing government housing targets meant demand for SANG was growing at the same time as suitable land was becoming harder and more expensive to secure.

The scheme is intended to be self-funding, with developers paying towards the creation and long-term maintenance of the nature park through planning agreements.

However, Cllr Jerry Hyman questioned assumptions about how many homes the SANG could support and whether the proposed mitigation would be effective, calling for an appropriate assessment.

Cllr Peter Martin also questioned whether the project could genuinely be described as self-funding, while Cllr Merryweather said the council's charging arrangements would ensure its costs were recovered.

Councillors also want the authority to explore incorporating a walking and cycling route through the site as part of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

The acquisition was approved unanimously.