According to a weekend report by the BBC, the Waverly Borough Council has approved plans for the shutdown of the historic WW II airfield and home of the motoring show's test track, in favour of the construction of 1 800 homes and extension of the existing Dunsfold Business Park.
"The development of Dunsfold Aerodrome will provide homes for young families currently priced out of the area, direct development away from green fields, create new jobs and deliver a range of new community facilities and infrastructure improvements," Dunfolds Park CEO, Jim McAllister, told the broadcaster.
It also reports that the council's local planning committee had given the application the thumbs after a 10 to eight vote.
The announcement has cast significant doubt over the next season of the acclaimed show, which took a battering in ratings and invoked a general outrage among fans following the sacking of star present Jeremy Clarkson and ultimate departure of co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May last year.
