Dunsfold houses: Plan for 1,800 homes approved

Dunsfold Aerodrome will close to shut its runways and be redeveloped as a business park

A plan to build 1,800 new homes at Dunsfold Aerodrome has been approved.

Waverley Borough Council's planning committee narrowly gave the go-ahead for the plans on Wednesday.

Opponents to the development of the site said the homes were not needed. The council said the new jobs would be created on the brownfield site.

The aerodrome is currently home to Dunsfold Business Park which accommodates more than 100 businesses employing more than 800 people.

Dunsfold Aerodrome is the largest brownfield site in Waverley and is neither in the greenbelt or the Surrey Hills area of outstanding natural beauty.

Jim McAllister, Dunsfold Park chief executive, said: "The development of Dunsfold Aerodrome will provide homes for young families currently priced out of the area, direct development away from green fields, create new jobs and deliver a range of new community facilities and infrastructure improvements."

The planning application was approved by 10 votes to eight at the council's planning committee meeting.

The owners have been told for the development to go ahead they must improve roads in the area to "mitigate the impact of traffic generated by the development", and provide a bus service in perpetuity.

Part of the development must provide affordable housing, the committee said.

There will also need to be a health centre on site, public open spaces and sports facilities as a condition of the development being allowed.