THE question over where to build new houses in Waverley is being posed to the borough's residents as part of a major consultation. Town and parish councils, as well as local groups, have been given a second chance to air their views on the issue and four options of where housing should go.

It comes as the borough council decided that its preferred option is for the main towns and villages to take the brunt of new development. The possibility of creating a new settlement has been shelved for the time being, but it is still on the cards as a possible longer-term option.

Waverley Borough Council's executive committee has recently agreed its preferred core strategy option for the location of new development in the borough after listening to feedback from a previous consultation.

It concluded that it would prefer future development in the borough to be located primarily on previously developed land in Farnham, Haslemere, Godalming and Cranleigh.

Development deemed appropriate to the needs of rural communities would also be permitted in rural villages.

On top of this, in very exceptional circumstances, limited development to meet the essential and proven social, cultural, economic or housing needs of rural communities would also be permitted adjacent to rural settlements.

The decision comes after the government ordered all councils to find space for thousands of new homes.

Last month the South East England Regional Assembly recommended that an average of 28,900 homes a year are built over the next 20 years to meet the area's housing need. However these figures are yet to be given final approval by the government.

The borough council's portfolio holder for planning Patrick Haveron said that Waverley's development plan was at the moment more an overall strategy than a specific plan. However he said that the council was keen to hear what local residents thought before the proposal was agreed.

"This plan places a higher value on communities and seeks to be an integrated strategy," he said.

"The policies are very broad and as such they are more like principles, which we are certain will stand the borough in good stead over the coming years."

The core strategy for the local development framework plan for the borough of Waverley can be viewed on http://www.waverley.gov.uk/ldf">www.waverley.gov.uk/ldf. Copies are available at Waverley's locality offices and from libraries.

Anyone wishing to comment should send their views to Waverley Borough Council by August 19.