DUNSFOLD Park has submitted new documents as part of its bid to build 1,800 homes at the aerodrome.
The new papers come after requests for more information from statutory consultees, following the submission of a planning application for the borough’s largest brownfield site in December last year.
Waverley Borough Council, which says is likely to determine the application in late October or November, has sent a letter to some 2,400 people, who have commented on the proposals so far, to advise that new information has now been received. The deadline for comments is October 7.
Objections to the development include claims the local road network could not cope with increased traffic, that a large settlement in a rural area is inappropriate and that it would over burden infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and public transport.
The decision on the new town was originally due in April – but was put back by the council after multiple requests for further information.
A number of consultees asked for more detail, including the Environment Agency, Natural England, Thames Water and Surrey County Council.
Three new documents replace the original travel plan, a new transport assessment and a new tree impact report.
Joint applicants Dunsfold Airport and Rutland say the information seeks to “provide clarity” on infrastructure, including the water strategy, sustainability and access proposed from the main A281, which at the Bramley crossroads now involves converting the mini-roundabout to a signal-controlled junction.
There is also an addendum to the environment statement which includes an updated flood-risk assessment, air quality chapter, sustainability assessment and applicants’ response to third party comments.
Dunsfold says in a covering letter to the council that the draft version of the Local Plan, which was put out to public consultation by Waverley in July, allocates 2,600 new homes at Dunsfold.
The letter states: “The current planning application documentation has made it clear that the 1,800 homes mixed-use development that permission is sought for does not hinder in any way an allocation or the subsequent delivery of a larger development at 2,600 dwellings.
“The 1,800 home development has been designed in a manner so it can act as a standalone development or act as a first phase of a larger development.
“The 1,800-home scheme does not prejudice nor rely upon future expansion of the proposed development to 2,600 homes.”
“The Local Plan position is now formally supportive of a new settlement at Dunsfold Park.
“The planning application acts to support that allocation and to underpin the Local Plan as a whole.”
It also points out that since the original application was submitted, the Government has set out support for “a new wave of garden towns and cities across the country,” with the potential to deliver more than 100,000 homes, and for areas that want to establish smaller settlements the Government will provide technical and financial support to areas that want to establish garden villages and market towns of between 1,500 and 10,000 homes.
In July, a mass demonstration was staged outside Waverley council offices before members approved publication of the draft Local Plan which would see up to 10,000 houses built across the borough in the next 16 years.
The Local Plan document, now out for public consultation until October 3, outlines 2,600 at Dunsfold, 2,330 in Farnham, 1,520 in Cranleigh, 1,245 in Godalming, 830 in Haslemere, and around 1,000 in neighbouring villages.
The Dunsfold Park application can be viewed at waverley.gov.uk. Search for WA/2015/2395.