WAVERLEY’S updated Local Plan, the blueprint for where to build around 8,500 new homes in the next 16 years, should be finalised and ready to be submitted for examination by July next year.

The council withdrew its original draft plan in October 2013, after a planning inspector objected, saying it proposed building only half the number of new houses he estimated were needed every year until 2031.

Waverley was expected to publish its updated draft plan in March 2014 but said it did not have enough information, particularly about the impact of traffic to proceed. It undertook a public consultation on preferred housing sites almost a year ago, which included four scenarios.

Three included building more than 1,000 new homes at Dunsfold Park and all involved building on greenfield sites.

Objectors have protested that delays in finalising the updated plan are creating a “developers’ gold rush”.

Last week, Waverley ended the uncertainty and announced a report would be submitted to its executive committee in September, outlining progress to date and setting out the provisional timetable for the draft new Local Plan.

Members are expected to endorse the ‘Preferred Spatial Strategy’ and associated strategic site allocations in October or November.

The council will identify the infrastructure required to support it and write the plan and its policies, and test it, with a view to approving it in April.

The plan is due to be submitted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate by July 2016.

Announcing the new timescale, Waverley leader Robert Knowles, said: “I whole heartedly believe the council will commit to getting the level of housing right for Waverley and its community.

“We acknowledge the Government expect us to meet our housing need, but we need to undertake a variety of tests to ensure that we rule out options that could harm our borough.

“We are also making sure that we listen to what residents have told us.”

Planning portfolio holder Brian Adams added: “We recognise the need to make sure that new homes are built in Waverley. A variety of homes are needed especially affordable homes.

“Our planning team is rigorously testing the draft new Local Plan to make sure it will protect the area’s environment.”

The draft Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) is being further updated to take account of the most recent household projections. The initial report by consultants GL Hearn suggested the annual new housing figure of 512 had risen to 519 dwellings.

The figure identified will not necessarily become the housing target for the draft new Local Plan. The final target will be settled on following tests to ascertain whether the borough can accommodate that number in a sustainable way.

The 2014 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), which identifies possible development sites, is also being reviewed and updated.

Officers have evaluated all 744 sites to test their suitability for potential development and rejected 670 as either too small or too far away from existing towns and villages, or otherwise unsuitable. There are now 74 potentially suitable sites – around 10 per cent of the original list.

The council is required to undertake further analysis before the sites can be considered as areas of potential development and a key part of this activity will be working with the environment agency on flood risk and sustainability appraisal work.

The updated SHLAA will be published later this year and will include the promoted sites across the borough considered to be suitable for development.