Horsham-based Sigma Homes has secured planning approval for its residential development in Dunsfold, Surrey, following the dismissal of a High Court statutory challenge brought by Waverley Borough Council. The decision upholds the approval granted after an appeal in May 2024, allowing the long-delayed project to finally proceed.
The judicial review brought by Waverley Borough Council sought to overturn the approval from the Secretary of State for the 3.44-hectare (8.5-acre) scheme, which will deliver 53 high-quality homes, of which 16 are designated affordable. The High Court ruled against Waverley Borough Council in December 2024, affirming the validity of the planning consent. The development will bring much-needed housing and critically needed affordable housing options to the area, where supply has consistently fallen short of targets.
This approval is particularly significant given the chronic undersupply of housing within Waverley Borough. The council’s current Five Year Housing Land Supply stands at just 1.28 years by the Council’s own published estimates* – well below the required threshold. If the Labour Government’s housing targets increase to over 1,450 homes annually under anticipated policy changes, the land supply figure could drop still further, exacerbating the local housing crisis**. Moreover, the last major residential development scheme in Dunsfold Village was approved back in 2017, over eight years ago.
Sigma Homes’ Dunsfold development represents a crucial step in addressing this shortage.
Geoff Potton, Chief Executive of Sigma Homes, said: “After both significant time and money wasted, we are relieved to have finally received the approval and go-ahead for this project. Unfortunately, planning applications taking years to get approved is all too common in the housebuilding industry, piling financial strain onto developers, and preventing much-needed homes from being built. In this case at Dunsfold, these unnecessary delays have also cost Waverly Council several tens of thousands of pounds – wasting taxpayers’ money.
“The lack of new housing in Dunsfold over the past eight years speaks volumes about the challenges we face. These homes will offer first-time buyers and families a rare opportunity to own an energy-efficient home in the area. The reality is that SME housebuilders are disproportionately affected by planning delays and obstacles like these. This is exactly why so many SMEs are struggling to stay in business, despite their vital role in delivering much-needed and sought-after homes and supporting local economies.”
Situated on Dunsfold Common Road, the new development will comprise a mix of one to four-bedroom homes, with 30% allocated for affordable housing. The scheme will also include a policy-compliant proportion of self-build homes.
The partly brownfield site comprises a residential property with a variety of equestrian facilities including stable blocks. The consented scheme includes a green route running through the development and connecting green spaces, together with new woodland edge planting. The installation of natural play features to the south of the site will also complement the more formal play provision at nearby Gratton Chase.
Dunsfold is located south-east of Godalming and has good transport links to surrounding Surrey towns and villages including connections with the A3 and into central London. A relatively new Digital Demand Responsive Transport (DDRT) service for buses is situated close to the site which aids its sustainability credentials.
For further information about Sigma Homes and its developments in Surrey and Sussex, visit: sigmahomesgroup.co.uk/.