Farnham’s NatWest Winebar Battle

Published on: 17 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 17 Apr, 2025

Former NatWest site in Farnham. Google Street View

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

A grade II listed former NatWest building will be turned into housing despite fears the development would close a “treasured” bar and a grill because of Waverley Borough Council’s failure to deliver enough new homes.

JBS Development Solutions has been granted planning permission to build six new homes on the vacant old bank site in The Borough, Farnham.

The homes will fill the high-street facing former NatWest frontage together with office buildings at the rear after being voted through by 10 votes to one, with one abstention.

The plans were agreed, despite the committee hearing it could “undoubtedly result in closure “ of high street stalwart Borelli’s.

Options were hamstrung, however, as Waverley Borough Council has a current housing requirement of 1,555 dwellings a year. It currently estimates there will only be 1,998 deliverable new homes – across the next half-decade.

Therefore most developments, unless located in an area or involving an asset of particular importance, “should be granted”, papers presented to the April 9th planning committee read.

It meant that, despite the strength of opposition, the chances of stopping it getting approved were slim.

David Quick, speaking via video link from France, owns Borelli’s wine bar and restaurant which adjoins the former NatWest building.

He has run the business for 30 years without a single noise complaint, he told the meeting, and was the longest-serving licence holder in the town.

On weekends they “become a very popular busy music venue… always at full capacity, with music volume being increased to suit the ambience of the bar”.

Mr Quick added: “The walls separating our restaurant with the proposed bedrooms in the former NatWest building, would result in serious noise complaints whatever sound-proofing measures were put in.”

He said events held at the bar and grill were a “vital trading time” for the business, “especially in these tough times”.

“For any restrictions to be imposed on our business would undoubtedly result in closure and would reduce the value of my freehold and business considerably.”

Hoping to ease concerns was Derek Copeland, who was speaking on behalf of the development. He said that the first consideration was the compatibility of residential homes and Borelli’s.

He said: “There is absolutely no intention to create a situation where (Borelli’s) is in any way threatened by would be complaints.

“We have gone to enormous lengths to consider how the plans are considered.

“A single window with a modern three levels of insulation will provide sufficient sound insulation, coupled with insulation that would be placed on the inner surfaces of the walls to protect the residents of those properties, or would be properties, from the noise from the outside.”

He added:” You will not have any unwelcome residents next to you in fact you’ll probably find six new customers.”

A covenant lies on the land restricting its use to commercial developments which may yet impact the developers ability to build the plans, but these can not be used as grounds for refusal.

Cllr David Beaman

Cllr David Beaman (Farnham Residents Group, Farnham North West) said: “Town centres are changing in the sense there is now more residential development and the fact there is a shift away from retail to things like hospitality outlets.

“I can understand the great concerns that David Quick has elaborated… but I think we have to take the word of the applicant that they have put in mitigating measures and that this will not lead to great fear.”

Cllr Graham White

He added: “We need to monitor this very carefully.”

Cllr Graham White (Farnham Residents Group, Farnham North West) said: “It is a very important business to the town and it’s something that we treasure.”

He added that he was reasonably confident that there would be protection and that it would be covered off correctly.