Amersham: Developer comments wait over The Maltings plans

The London developer DLBP submitted plans last year to transform the historical Grade II listed The Maltings former brewery in Old Amersham into dozens of homes.

If approved, The Maltings on School Lane will be turned into 38 homes by building new detached homes and conversion of existing building, including some demolition, extensions, changes to doors and windows and refurbishment plus car parking and landscaping works.

The initial plan for 45 homes attracted objections from the residents and groups like the Amersham Society, who have raised concerns with vehicle access through School Lane, parking provision and risk of flooding with River Misbourne flowing past the site.  

The Maltings in Old Amersham closed as a brewery in 1929. (Image: DLBP)

Since the plans were submitted in September last year, the developer reduced the number of homes from 45 to 38 while increasing parking spaces to 78 as part of a revision of the scheme.

Earlier this year, residents raised concerns over damage to protected trees between the site and Barn Meadow Recreation Ground after Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to protect eight walnut trees and a hornbeam with a Tree Protection Order.

More than a year after the plans were revealed, wait for a decision continues.

DLBP’s director of planning Andrew Ryley said: “We have amended the application earlier this year in response to comments made by the Council and local residents, and we are now proposing 38 new homes and an increased level of car parking provision of 78 spaces.  We are also committed to retaining the important trees identified by the Council including the hornbeam close to the river.

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“At the current time the Council is considering these amendments, and we continue to work with the officers to respond to any queries they have.”

Following the revisions, Amersham Town Council said in June that its members "agreed that a number of issues had been sufficiently addressed" and they were "pleased with the new ratio of properties to allocated parking bays." 

However, they still raised concerns regarding waste management, traffic due to a narrow entry/exit point which appears to be gated, the only entry and exit being onto Pondwicks "which is not wide enough for two lanes of traffic." 

"It was felt that the designs did not go far enough to mitigate traffic issues that this would cause, particularly at peak times." 

Lastly, Amersham Town councillors raised concerns over "the pressure the development would cause to the immediate local infrastructure," in particular St Mary's CofE School and the Rectory Hill Surgery.