EAGERLY awaited planning appeal decisions on whether 1,800 new homes can be built at Dunsfold Park plus more than 350 homes on three separate sites in Farnham have been delayed after an intervention by Housing Secretary Sajid Javid.

In an 11th-hour announcement, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the make-or-break appeals would not be determined until after the report of the examination of Waverley Borough Council’s Local Plan Part 1 was published.

This, he said, “is likely to be published shortly”, adding that he considers the report will be of “potential relevance” to the applications for a major residential development at Waverley’s largest brownfield site, 157 homes in Waverley Lane, 140 in Lower Weybourne Lane and 56 to the rear of Bindon House in Monkton Lane.

Waverley has allocated Dunsfold Park aerodrome south of Godalming as a suitable site for 2,600 houses in its Local Plan Part 1. They will have to built elsewhere in the borough if the airfield is rejected at appeal for 1,800 new homes.

The inspector’s examination report, which will recommend if Waverley’s Local Plan Part 1 is sound and can be adopted, was due in December and is expected imminently. Its late arrival will delay the progress of the Local Plan.

“The Local Plan timetable was estimated with the expectation that we would receive the inspector’s report on the Local Plan in December,” a Waverley spokesman said.

“We are still waiting to receive the inspector’s report. Once it has been received, the council will undertake a ‘fact’ check. If the plan is found sound it will be rescheduled for adoption by full council.”