HOPES a public inquiry critical to the success of Waverley’s Local Plan could be determined before the examination to test the planning blueprint’s “soundness”, were scotched this week.

The Planning Inspectorate announced the inquiry to determine Dunsfold Park’s outline application to build 1,800 new homes at the airfield will start on Tuesday, July 18. It is scheduled to last 12 days.

Waverley’s Local Plan, setting out a blueprint for development in the borough up to 2032, will be examined at a hearing starting on Tuesday, June 27.

A cornerstone of the Local Plan to meet increased housing targets, is the plan to build up to 2,600 at the airfield.

But the suitability of the site for thousands of new homes is now in question, following last month’s decision by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid to ‘call in’ an outline scheme for 1,800 houses, which was approved by Waverley planners in December.

Waverley leader councillor Julia Potts said she was “very surprised and disappointed” by the call-in, as the application appeared to tick all the boxes in the Government’s Housing White Paper. Earlier this month, Waverley signed off an additional £200,000 in taxpayers’ funds to defend its decision at the inquiry.

Miss Potts promised Waverley would be fighting its corner “very robustly” at the inquiry. “Just so we’re clear,” she said, “the council made a planning decision based on all the planning facts and all the legal advice.”

This week, Waverley declined to comment on whether the timing of the Dunsfold inquiry would undermine the examination of its Local Plan.

Dunsfold supporters are concerned if the airfield is ruled out as a major housing site and Waverley’s housing allocation of 10,000 new homes by 2032 is not reduced, new greenfield sites will need to be found.

Campaign group Protect Our Waverley (POW), which has vigorously opposed Dunsfold’s housing plan, said the thousands who protested against the development, including a group of 11 parish councils, were delighted it would be decided by public inquiry.

POW has launched an appeal for funds to help fight the case against.

“At the inquiry we need professional help to represent POW and the Joint Parish Councils and their constituents,” the group stated. “We need a traffic consultant, a planning consultant and a QC. None of these come without significant cost.

“There is much work to be done and appointments must be made now. We need funds to enable this. We will be running fundraising events and we hope you’ll support us generously.”

• A new community group Dunsfold Airfield History Society is urging the historic Canadian-built Second World War aerodrome, where the Harrier jump jet was subsequently developed and, which is now home to BBC Top Gear, should be preserved as a conservation area.

Historic England is currently evaluating 10 structures at the airfield for possible listed buildings status. The borough is conducting a public consultation on whether the site should be considered for Conservation Area status. Deadline for responses Friday, April 28.