Up to 45 dwellings at Land To The South East Of Whielden Street, Amersham

What was proposed

An outline scheme sought up to 45 homes, including affordable housing, open space, landscaping, biodiversity measures and a new access from Whielden Street.

“Application Number: PL/25/2404/OA Proposal: Outline planning application, with all matters reserved (except for principal means of access to the public highway), for the erection of up to 45 dwellings, including affordable housing, public open space, hard and soft landscaping, biodiversity enhancements and new vehicular access onto Whielden Street, and associated infrastructure…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 3.7-hectare countryside site lies opposite the hospital, within the Green Belt and Chilterns National Landscape, beside Old Amersham and several rights of way.

“There are significant public benefits arising from the proposal on the site, including new homes, affordable housing and economic revenue. In considering all material planning considerations, having particular regard to key policies for directing development to sustainable locations, making effective use of land, securing well-designed places and providing affordable homes, the benefits of the scheme are considered to outweigh the harms.”

“Adjacent to the site to the south lies HS2 and its associated safeguarding zone. Several public rights of way AMS/21/4 and AMS/21/3 intersect the site and public right of ways AMS/23B/1, AMS/23C/1 and AMS/23/2 run along the northern boundary and AMS/22/1 is located to the eastern boundary. The application site slopes upwards away from the build form of Old Amersham towards the A413, providing open countryside views from Amersham Old Town.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval after completion of a legal agreement, judging the housing and other benefits greater than the identified heritage, landscape and ecological harms.

“Overall Conclusion 7.22 The proposal would give rise to identified harm, including less than substantial harm to designated heritage assets (great weight); significant local landscape and visual harm; moderate harm to the Chilterns National Landscape (significant weight); and ecological uncertainty (moderate weight). Collectively, these harms attract substantial negative weight.”

“The application provides for housing and associated development. It is not considered that discrimination or inequality would arise from the proposal. RECOMMENDATION: Defer and delegate the application to the Director of Planning and Environment to Approve subject to completion of the S.106 agreement. Subject to the following conditions: Conditions 1.”

Officer report

What residents said

Residents objected on grounds including wildlife loss, heritage and landscape damage, traffic, parking, flooding, overlooking, lost green space, infrastructure pressure and construction disruption.

“Highway Authority: The scheme to generate a total of 186 – 276 vehicular movements (two-way) per day, which can be accommodated within the Local Highway Network. The new site access would provide visibility splays in line with the posted speed limit of 2.4m x 43m, and serve two way traffic flows. Objection to loss and re-location of parking bays. Environmental Health Noise: Principes of good acoustic design should be fully adopted and implemented.”

“Flooding & Drainage • Existing flooding issues on Whielden Street during heavy rain. • Development on sloping land may increase surface water runoff. • Concerns over adequacy of proposed attenuation ponds and drainage systems. • Risk to historic timber-framed properties with no foundations. Privacy & Overlooking • Elevated site will overlook existing homes and gardens (Diamond Court, Whielden Street, Whielden Green). • Loss of privacy and light for neighbouring properties.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A ward member, town council representative, objector, supporter and applicant representative addressed the committee.

The committee’s decision

Members refused the application, finding Green Belt, heritage, landscape, ecology, parking and infrastructure harms were not outweighed by the benefits.

“1) The proposed development would not comprise grey belt land due to footnote 7 assets of the National Landscape and Heritage harm providing strong reasons refusal. In addition, the site makes a strong contribution to Green Belt Purpose (d), to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns. The development would therefore constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would result in harm to the openness and three purposes of the Green Belt.”

“Having regard to the benefits and the harms arising from the proposal, the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the other harm identified, was not clearly outweighed by other material considerations such as to constitute the very special circumstances necessary to permit inappropriate development in the Green Belt and the proposal is contrary to policies such as the Chiltern's Core Strategy Policies CS4, CS22, CS24 and CS32 and Chiltern's Saved Local…”

Minutes