A LAST-DITCH challenge to Waverley Borough Council’s Local Plan housing target has been rejected by The Court of Appeal.

The judgement supported the High Court’s decision to reject legal challenges by Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Surrey and Protect Our Waverley (POW) to Waverley Local Plan Part 1.

They sought to reduce the council’s housing target of 11,200 to 7,500 by removing its requirement to meet 50 per cent of neighbouring authority Woking’s ‘unmet meed’.

The appeal centred on how a shortfall in housing provision – unmet need – in one borough is allocated to neighbouring boroughs.

CPRE and POW maintained it was of national importance to get clarity on a key issue.

Welcoming the verdict, Waverley leader Cllr John Ward said: “I am extremely pleased to hear of the Court of Appeal’s decision.

“Local Plan Part 1 has been vindicated in the High Court and now the Court of Appeal.

“As POW and CPRE Surrey do not intend to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, I hope we can now finally put to bed all the questioning of Local Plan Part 1 and move on.”

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