A request by Elmbridge Borough Council for a 12-month extension to its Draft Local plan has been denied by the government.

In September, the Planning Inspector told the authority she would deem the plan “unsound” in its current form.

This means it would not be approved at its final stage.

This news prompted councillors to ask for a year long delay so the plan could be re-evaluated which has now been denied.

The authority had already gone through two phases of public consultation on the document which details plans for house building.

Councillors say a new plan will take 3-4 years to formulate and say the government clearly doesn’t have new homes as a priority.