WAVERLEY’S blueprint for future housing development suffered a setback on Budget Day with the government decision to ‘call-in’ outline plans for 1,800 new homes at Dunsfold Park.

A cornerstone of the borough council’s new draft Local Plan to meet increased housing targets was set to create 2,600 new houses at the airfield by 2032 – but if Secretary of State Sajid Javid rejects Dunsfold Park’s application after a public inquiry, alternative sites will have to be found for around 10,000 new homes required.

Haslemere MP Jeremy Hunt and fellow Tory MP Anne Milton (Guildford) backed the outcry led by campaign group Protect Our Waverley against building 1,800 houses at the airfield and lobbied the Communities Secretary to call in Waverley’s decision to grant consent in December.

“I am pleased there will now be a full public enquiry following the decision to call in the Dunsfold application,” Mr Hunt said. “This will address the concerns of many residents, who understand the need for more housing but are worried about the implications for local infrastructure.”

POW chairman Bob Lees said: “We, and the thousands who protested against this proposal, are delighted.

“It is absolutely right an independent view be taken of this application.

“The site was found to be unsustainable in 2008 and is still unsustainable.

Dunsfold Park’s owners said they respected the Secretary of State’s decision to ‘call-in’ the planning application and will continue working with all interestered parties as the situation develops.

Waverley leader councillor Julia Potts said she was “very surprised and disappointed” as the decision appeared to tick all the boxes in the Government’s housing White Paper, which supports brownfield development.

Waverley’s executive director Paul Wenham said: “The council is seeking advice as to whether there will be any potential impact on the timing of the Local Plan public enquiry.”

Friends of the Earth planning expert Kathy Smyth said:“I find this decision baffling. It certainly has the potential to cause planning chaos locally. There are a lot of potential ramifications, including on the draft Local Plan, but it’s really too early to predict all of them.

“However if Dunsfold is ruled out as a major housing site I still can’t see the Government reducing Waverley’s housing allocation so it could mean a full Green Belt review which will impact on Milford and Godalming.

“Farnham’s newly approved Neighbourhood Plan, which is now going to a referendum, is consistent with the emerging Local Plan which relies on Dunsfold for some housing so that would probably need reviewing.

“All these things take time and during this time much of Waverley would continue to have no little or no protection against smaller-scale developments like the recent ones around Cranleigh which make no or minimal infrastructure contributions.

“I feel rather sorry for Miss Potts and the Waverley leadership.

“They had finally got the Local Plan process back on track but now she seems to have had the rug pulled from under her feet by MPs and a Secretary of State from her own party.”