Dunsfold Aerodrome homes plan 'needs more work'

Dunsfold Park has an aerodrome and business park and is home to Top Gear's test track

Plans for a "new Surrey village" on a brown field airfield site cannot be considered by planners in their current form, the local council has said.

Dunsfold Aerodrome submitted its application for 1,800 homes to Waverley Borough Council last month.

Council leader Robert Knowles said it would not be valid without more information about infrastructure.

Dunsfold said its plans included a school and health centre and a package of transport improvements.

A planning application for 2,600 homes on the airfield, which is also home to BBC Top Gear's test track, was turned down in 2008.

The government upheld the decision after a month-long planning appeal the following year.

'Congested road'

Mr Knowles said the roads surrounding the airfield were a very important issue.

"The last application from Dunsfold was turned down by the Secretary of State because of the highways," he said.

"The A281 is very congested. Then there is power supply, sewage, water, schools and doctors - all these things have to be taken into account."

He said Dunsfold had been told there was more work to be done on the application.

"That is something that can be overcome, I would assume, and once it is valid officers will start to work on it," he said.

Dunsfold declined to comment but told BBC Surrey all the information was in its application.

It has said the new homes would be accompanied by new employment space and facilities including a school, health centre and country park as well as transport improvements.

The council included the aerodrome as a possible site for new homes in consultations for its Local Plan, which has yet to be published.

The aerodrome said last year that if homes were built all flying activities would cease.