A revised planning application to build 975 properties along with a care home and a primary school in Chalfont St Peter has been heavily criticised.
Submitted by the Epilepsy Society, the charity first issued their plans to Buckinghamshire Council for their huge project in September 2022.
But their initial proposal was met with much scepticism with many suggesting that the village’s small size, ongoing flooding/sewage issues, along with its current infrastructure, would not be able to withstand nearly 1,000 newly built houses, a care home and a primary school.
Many also pointed out that the project would take over much greenbelt land, with there being a potential danger to wildlife.
Talk about the planning application had gone quiet between August 2023 and March 2024, with a handful of objection letters being sent to the council.
But following a recent public meeting in the village on April 16, where many residents expressed their frustrations and shared their stories to delegates from Buckinghamshire Council, Thames Water and the Environmental Agency regarding the recent floods and sewage issues, a revamped planning application has since been submitted.
This was sent on April 18 – two days after the public gathering which was attended by roughly 350 people.
The plans that were sent this month showcase the idea of having several sports pitches and outdoor gym spaces, orchards and tree-lined avenues, allotments and kitchen gardens and a woodland edge.
However, many residents are still not happy with the plans.
One local, who lives in Joiners Lane, said in her objection letter: “I am politely not supportive of this planning application.
“Firstly, the existing traffic through Joiners Lane where I live is already horrendous due to HS2 HGVs/Lorries/Tractors etc.
“I am woken up every day due to fast, heavy lorries sending vibrations into my home.
“We have had burst water mains on A413 several times this year seeing traffic diverted through Joiners Lane, again this has been appalling.”
Another resident said: “At the meeting [on April 16] it was made very clear that the issue with the flooding in the village has to do with the high levels of water in the chalk aquifers under the village, not surface water running down the valley.
“So ‘infiltration to the ground’ to deal with rainfall is simply NOT an option.
“It's a complete mess already and 975 houses are only going to add to that, especially if they choose to handle water this way.
“We had bad flooding in 2014 too (not as bad, granted), so to suggest such things are 'one in 100 years' is false.
“The road infrastructure is already creaking heavily, as are the local doctors: this application doesn't add doctors and seems to belittle the impact on the roads.
“It's a joke to say that deliveries to the building site would happen outside of rush hour - lorries will simply turn up when they turn up.”
To visit the application which has 1,146 separate documents, click here.
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