Chalfont St Giles: Dibden Hill Farm redevelopment

Mr Hayes of Bullsland Farm in Chorleywood has submitted to Bucks Council a planning application for the redevelopment of the former Dibden Hill Farm site in Chalfont St Giles.

The development involves the demolition of all existing agricultural and equestrian buildings (except the existing farmhouse) and the erection of nine two-storey detached homes (three three-bed, four four-bed, two five-bed), in “spacious plots”.

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A separate 689 sqm “solar array” is also proposed to provide renewable energy for the site and its on-site new utility building.

The existing driveway is to be expanded.

Bucks Council was approached in 2021 with a scheme to redevelop the site.

Pre-application advice from Bucks Council in 2021 revealed that, while there is “no objection in principle” to redevelopment of the site, “the proposal would be inappropriate as the site lies in the Green Belt”.

From above 

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New site layout

It also said the scheme “would have to rely” on Very Special Circumstances to outweigh its harm.

And that designs need to reflect the character of the area.

However, the site itself is located in a “cluster” of redeveloped commercial units of Penwynne Farm and Tier Cottage, a planning statement reads.

Neighbour and objector Mr Simon Earle however described the scheme as an “overdevelopment of the site”.

Adding: “[This] will blight Dibden Hill property values before, during and after development.”

“The proposal seeks to create nine two-storey units relatively similar in scale, bulk and massing to those at Penwynne Farm and land north of Tier Cottage,” a planning statement reads.

“The architecture is deliberately modern, and the colour and material palette characterise the surrounding locality.

“The rationale for the proposed development is that the current site is increasingly unviable as a working agricultural asset.

“The expanded stables were introduced in the mid-1990s to create some income, but this is not enough to generate enough commercial value to supplement the farming activity.”

Planning officers will now decide what becomes of the application.

To view and comment on the plans, use planning portal ref: PL/22/0939/FA.

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