Housing project 'stuck in the mud', councillor says

A local authority's proposed redevelopment project is "stuck in the mud", according to a councillor.

In 2024, Waverley Borough Council agreed a budget of £21m to turn a free car park and youth club at the Fairground site in Haslemere into a supermarket with housing.

But no retailers have decided to move forward with the council despite three making early enquiries into the site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Waverley Borough Council says it remains "fully committed" to the development.

It pointed to a "range of new options", including housing without a commercial element, different approaches to the future location of the youth hub and selling the site.

"But this council's corporate strategy prioritises the delivery of decent and affordable homes," the local authority added.

Councillor Jerome Davidson told a council meeting on Monday that the project was "stuck in the mud".

"Our town's youth hub is falling down," he said. "It's got to be dealt with."

Haslemere Youth Club, which said it has more than 60,000 visits annually, told the BBC it had "significant concerns" that demolishing the building was being considered.

"Any decision about the future of the site needs to take full account of the wider impact that the loss or disruption of this provision could have on children and young people, families and the wider community," it said.

Resident Rachel James told BBC Radio Surrey she used to live nearby but had moved away because of the proposed development.

"We don't need another supermarket," she said. "There are already two".

Davidson said Haslemere, particularly the town centre, was desperately short of affordable social housing.

Jane Austin, leader of the Conservative group, said that "very substantial sums" had already been spent on the project, which she blamed on "flip-flop" decision-making.

"There is now a very real risk... [that the site is sold] to realise cash," she continued.

"That would be a terrible outcome for Haslemere.

"It would have been totally avoidable if we had just proceeded at the time with the original plan for 100% affordable.

"We could have had it built by now," she continued.

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