AN expert report commissioned by nine parish councils has concluded Waverley’s estimate of housing need in its draft Local Plan should be around 400 homes a year, not 519.

The group, which comprises Dunsfold, Chiddingfold, Hambledon, Alfold, Bramley, Busbridge, Hascombe, Loxwood and Shalford, has sent the detailed technical review by former ministerial housing policy advisor Neil McDonald to Waverley and urged the borough council to adopt its findings to ensure the plan is sound and avoid unnecessary house building.

“The key issue is the significantly different picture painted by the most recent projections and population statistics from that set out in the Strategic Housing Market assessment for Waverley based on the Government’s 2012 household projections,” the group stated.