MAJOR housing plans for South Bucks could be thrown out after “serious concerns” were raised about the way bosses at two old councils drew up the proposals.

Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council submitted their joint local plan for inspection in September 2019, which includes suggestions for where more than 15,000 homes could be built in the next 20 years.

But the plan has hit a huge setback after planning inspectors slammed the councils for failing to engage “constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis” with Slough Borough Council (SBC).

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The Bucks authorities, now part of Buckinghamshire Council, had a duty to co-operate with SBC in developing their local plan as the neighbouring council has an unmet housing need of up to 10,000 homes.

Because SBC is restricted in how many houses it can build in its planning boundary, it is recommended larger family homes are built as close to Slough as possible — namely in South Buckinghamshire.

But a report from examiners at the Planning Inspectorate indicated representatives from the Bucks councils and from SBC met just three times between October 2017 and June 2019.

The report read: “It is evident that the issue of SBC’s unmet housing need was raised early in the preparation of the Chiltern and South Bucks local plan, as far back as 2016.

“From dialogue in October 2017 and January 2018, no further meetings were held with SBC for almost 18 months, until after publication of the submission version [of the] local plan.

“Despite SBC raising concerns once more, no formal notes of the meeting were taken, and the plan proceeded to submission in September 2019.

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“Based on the evidence provided we, therefore, have very serious concerns the councils have not engaged actively, constructively and on an ongoing basis in relation to a strategic matter in the plan’s preparation.”

In light of this, the examiners suggest they cannot recommend the plan is adopted if the planning authorities have not fulfilled their duty to co-operate.

Buckinghamshire Council will get a chance to respond to the Inspectorate’s findings before a decision is made, but the examiners note “there is a strong likelihood the only option will be for the council to withdraw the plan.”

Cllr Warren Whyte, Buckinghamshire Council’s planning chief, said: “The council has already been facing the prospect of building in some green belt areas to ensure we meet the housing needs of Buckinghamshire residents.

“To suggest that the plan should also have accommodated up to an additional 10,000 houses for Slough is ridiculous.

“I hope when we present our arguments to the inspectors that they are persuaded to change their minds.”

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But the leader of Slough Borough Council has hit back at Bucks planning chiefs for ‘burying their heads in the sand’ over this issue.

Councillor James Swindlehurst said: “Since 2016 we have consistently invited South Bucks and Chiltern to co-operate in finding a mutually acceptable solution to meet both Slough’s and South Bucks housing need on the border of our respective boroughs.

“However, like the proverbial ostrich, they have kept their head firmly buried in the sand over this issue — so while this judgement is disappointing for them, it’s not surprising to us that South Bucks and Chiltern have been found by the planning inspectorate to have failed in their duty to co-operate.

“I personally hope this judgement will cause them to reflect and accept our long-standing invitation to co-operate with Slough so we can find a mutually beneficial solution that meets both our housing needs in the best interest of our residents.

“We will now begin work with their successor council, the new Buckinghamshire authority, to work toward meeting locally identified housing need.”