Around 350 homes planned for former golf course

Developers have identified a site just over the Hertfordshire border in Buckinghamshire, the Bucks Free Press reports.

The land in question is between Lodge Lane and Burtons Lane, in Little Chalfont.

Applicant Biddulph (Buckinghamshire) Ltd is now preparing to submit the plans to Buckinghamshire Council, and is asking residents to have their say on the plans.

Biddulph has confirmed it hopes to build around 350 new homes, including affordable housing, a retirement village of around 100 new homes and a care home.

The developers say the proposal will provide "much-needed new homes in a high-quality landscaped setting", including the "potential" for a primary school and nursery, community hub and valley park, and improvements to junctions on the A404 and public transport infrastructure.

Circled is roughly the area in Little Chalfont identified for development. It is close to the Herts border and Chorleywood. Credit: Google Maps

They wrote on their website: “We would like to hear what you like and dislike about Little Chalfont and the area around the former golf course, and your ideas for the new neighbourhood itself.”

All the feedback will be assessed and fed to the design team, which will come up with a masterplan for the new neighbourhood to be presented to the community via Zoom on Wednesday, September 15.

Biddulph Ltd says it intends to submit the plans by autumn this year.

The site was previously a part of the the now withdrawn Chiltern and South Bucks Local Plan - after Buckinghamshire became a unitary authority.

Six councillors in the area have already spoken out against the plans

Cllrs Caroline Jones, Rachael Matthews and council leader Martin Tett (all representing Little Chalfont and Amersham Common) and Chess Valley councillors Joseph Baum, Emily Culverhouse and Gareth Williams, released a statement saying they were “concerned" about the plans.

They said: "As the Buckinghamshire councillors representing Little Chalfont, we are concerned to see that a developer is proposing to build a large housing estate on green belt land to the south of the Metropolitan Railway line between Lodge Lane and Burtons Lane.

"This area includes the former golf course and Homestead Farm and forms a key part of the Green Belt surrounding our village."

The site of the proposed new homes. Credit: Google/JTP

They added: "Any release of Green Belt has to demonstrate "very special circumstances". We do not believe that such circumstances have been shown, and that such a development severely risks undermining the local Green Belt and also the setting of the surrounding Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which thousands of our residents cherish and enjoy.

"We will also oppose this attempt to pre-empt the new Local Plan.

"As your local councillors, we will ensure that the voice of the community is heard loud and clear, and we stand ready to scrutinise this application should it be submitted."

Visit www.jtp.co.uk/projects/community-planning/littlechalfont for more information.