WAVERLEY council has given development partner Crest Nicholson the green light to begin construction of the Brightwells scheme this summer – breaking a promise to first put in place a temporary works access to the A31.

Crest's application, for a non-material amendment to its 2012 extant planning consent to build new shops, restaurants, an Odeon cinema and 239 flats on land south of East Street, split members of Waverley Borough Council's joint planning committee - 14 votes in favour to eight against on Monday.

It clears a major stumbling block for the long-delayed Brightwells scheme.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.