Talks begin on airfield new town

Developers say the site will have services within walking distance.

A plan to build 2,600 houses on an airfield site has entered a three-week period of public consultation.

Waverley Borough Council in Surrey is canvassing opinions on the development at Dunsfold Park, which is currently home to 108 businesses.

Protestors have urged their supporters to lodge formal objections with the council, claiming the area cannot support the new homes.

But developers have said the new village will be self sustaining.

Barry Myers, chairman of the Stop Dunsfold Park New Town campaign said: "We estimate that at least 17,000 households in this area will be affected by the added burden on our infrastructure.

"The roads, hospitals, railways, and other services, most of which are operating at capacity, will suffer hugely," he said.

Speaking in April, the site's developers said the village would have services within walking distance.

"People will be actively discouraged from buying a house if they're going to travel off-site," a spokeswoman for Dunsfold Park Ltd said.

"Seven hundred staff are employed at Dunsfold Park already - they will have first choice on the houses. People will walk to work."

The public consultation ends on 30 May.