A FRESH challenge was issued today by objectors determined to prevent 1,800 house being built at Dunsfold Park at the conclusion of the three-week planning appeal inquiry.

In a dramatic twist with repercussions across the borough, Protect Our Waverley (POW) and Joint Parish Councils (JPC), representing 11 neighbouring authorities, formally requested Secretary of State Sajid Javid “call in” the decision on Waverley’s Local Plan, on the grounds that the examination inspector Jonathan Bore “exceeded his remit”.

Mr Bore’s acceptance of Waverley’s allocation of 2,600 houses at the airfield in its development blueprint until 2032, during his six-day examination hearings, was seized on by Dunsfold Park and Waverley’s legal teams, as vital ammunition to approve the application for 1,800 homes at appeal.

Battling to get the housing scheme refused, POW and JPC’s barrister Paul Stinchcombe QC told the inquiry today in his closing submission: “Inspector Bore’s preliminary comments reveal that he has unquestionably misdirected himself in law, a matter which we forewarn may now very well result in a legal challenge to any decision to adopt the emerging local plan.”

Urging the scheme be approved in his final submission, Dunsfold Park QC Christopher “Kit Kat” Katowski said he relished any legal challenge: “There is a real sense of momentum in favour of our proposals,” he told the inquiry. “Their time has come.

The local plan examining inspector is convinced that a new village at Dunsfold Park is sound, having considered all reasonable alternatives.”

Summing up the case for Waverley, the council’s barrister Wayne Beglan said: “The proposal satisfies each of the three elements of sustainability. It will make a substantial contribution to the council’s housing land supply over the next five years, but more importantly it will provide significant levels of affordable housing , as well as making provision for accommodation specifically for older people.”

*For full report see next week’s Herald.