Plans for 650 homes on the former Panshanger airfield site have moved a step closer after the landowners submitted an outline planning application.

Mariposa Investments and Homes England have jointly sent the application for a residential-led, mixed-use development at the WGC site, which has already been included in the borough council’s Local Plan.

It comes amid rival petitions being launched in relation to reinstating a community airfield at the site.

Mariposa’s latest plans include 650 homes, a two-form entry primary school, retail and community facilities, and allotments.

A spokesman for the landowners said as well as market and affordable housing, land has been allocated for self-build units, a retirement village and six gypsy and traveller pitches.

He added: “The proposed development will form a sustainable urban extension to the existing neighbourhood of Panshanger.

“It has been designed in accordance with Garden City Principles and provides open space and community facilities for both existing and new residents to use.

“The application submission is timed to dovetail with the final stages of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Local Plan process.

“The submission version of the council’s Local Plan allocates the 28-hectare site for a housing-led mixed-use development.”

However, Nick Coplowe, of pro-airfield campaign Project Phoenix, said the group is disappointed that the landowners have not given any consideration to having an airfield nearby.

“Within their proposal they have failed to show how a realigned runway could be achieved whilst having regard to the relevant design considerations for such a runway,” he said.

“The fact that they have not considered noise from aircraft in their planning application seems to be contradictory.”

Mr Coplowe added that Mariposa’s “driving motivation is profit and squeezing the maximum amount from their land”.

Representatives of the anti-airfield campaign have been contacted for comment.