The planning appeal by Taylor Wimpey into the proposed development at Wisley Airfield began on Tuesday 26 September 2023 in the Baptist Church in Guildford.
The first day of this public inquiry saw opening submissions from all the Rule 6 parties, including East and West Horsley Parish Councils delivered by our planning consultant, Colin Smith. Guildford Borough Council (GBC) and Surrey County Council made short submissions later that afternoon.
The next two days saw traffic and transport evidence presented by John Russell of Transport Consultants, Motion Group, speaking on behalf of joint Rule 6 party comprising Wisley Action Group (WAG), Ockham Parish Council and RHS Wisley. He was subjected to over six hours of intense cross-examination by Taylor Wimpey’s barrister.
The public inquiry now has a break and continues on Tuesday 10 October 2023 in the GBC chamber in Millmead with the three remaining WAG witnesses giving their evidence: Dr Ben Marner on air quality, Andrew Baker on ecology and Richard Hall of Planning & Design Group on planning.
Next will come the Horsleys evidence from our planning consultant, Colin Smith. This will probably be on the morning of Thursday 12 October although the precise timing depends on how long previous witnesses actually take.
We will be followed by the Send/Ripley team, then various residents speaking for Villages Against Wisley New Town (VAWNT) on Tuesday 17October. The subsequent day of Wednesday 18 October has been fixed for any members of the public who wish to speak.
The seven witnesses for Taylor Wimpey are expected to begin giving their evidence on Tuesday 31 October and will probably take up all of the subsequent two weeks, although precise timings have still to be announced.
Closing of the public inquiry is scheduled for Tuesday 29 November 2023.