The decision heralds the start of the long-awaited, and highly controversial – Dunsfold Park Garden Village on the site of an old WW2 airfield on the Surrey/Sussex border.
The first stage of the scheme is a pivotal part of Waverley’s Local Plan and is now supported by both Dunsfold and Alfold Parish Councils and, surprise, surprise! – Protect Or Waverley. But don’t hold your breath? WW suspects there are more battles to come?
Waverley Planners were faced with two planning applications last night for Dunsfold Park.- The first for the re-location of a Shalford business (Gordon Murray Designs) pictured below.
– and another for a new access road into the Dunsfold Park Garden Village off the A281 Horsham/Guildford Road.
Both applications were given the thumbs up – with plaudits all round from councillors from across the whole of the Waverley borough. They ‘welcomed’ the start of what will become one of the Government’s new Garden Villages and which, before a brick has been laid, is already bringing with it – much needed new businesses and the start of almost 500 new jobs.
Councillor Anna James said she was “ecstatic, saying “we are very lucky” that the Gordon Murray business would remain in Waverley’ – (it is, however, a Guildford business that is being re-located to Waverley.) She added that the arrival of the company was a good start for the regeneration of the airfield which she described as, the new “Dunsfold Green Town.” Later after considering the siting of the new access road she and others said they were thrilled with the Avenue of Canadian Maples
Other councillors from other parts of the borough including Farnham and Godalming, said they were very impressed by the developer’s efforts to achieve a considerably improved new access from the (A281) Horsham/ Guildford Rd, which now avoided ancient woodland, and gave a straight, and impressive run into the new settlement.
The seven-metre wide new road includes a three-metre wide footpath and cycleway which will eventually serve the proposed 1,800 new homes in the first phase and another 800 included in the Local Plan, and both new and existing commercial uses, at the site. It will also see the closure of the existing Stovolds Hill and Compass Gate entrances into Dunsfold Park. A detailed Masterplan for the 1,800 new homes, many of which will be affordable in Phase One, will come forward in the New Year. You can listen to the meeting here: