Developers have appealed against Buckinghamshire Council’s refusal of plans to build 120 new homes in Beaconsfield after green belt concerns.

The council voted against the proposed development in March after concluding that it would “result in harm to the green belt”.

Hawridge Strategic Land had applied to build 120 properties, including affordable and self-build homes at a six-hectare site on Broad Lane in Holtspur in June 2023.

The plans, which the developer said would help the council to meet its housing needs, also included pedestrian and cycle paths, a new pedestrian crossing and an improved crossing along the A40.

Hawridge lodged an appeal earlier this month against the refusal of the plans, which council officials said was due to “not meeting the very special circumstances necessary to permit inappropriate development on the green belt”.

Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey released a statement strongly opposing the appeal this week, pointing to the value of the green belt in “protecting our natural landscapes and preventing urban sprawl”.

Ms Morrissey also said there was insufficient “local infrastructure” to support 120 new homes, suggesting that “existing local services could come under increased pressure” if construction goes ahead.

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She added: “Since this development was first proposed, community opposition has been loud and clear. The residents of Holtspur have voiced their concerns consistently.

“Their insights and lived experiences must be given significant weight in this process. Ignoring the voices of local people would be a grave disservice to those who live and work in the area.”

In letters submitted to the planning portal in the nine months during which the project was under consideration, residents expressed a preference for Holtspur to “stay as it is” and drew attention to “already problematic traffic issues”, which could be made worse by an influx of new residents.

In its decision notice, however, the council veered away from such concerns and focused squarely on the site’s green belt designation and its proximity to the Burnham Beeches special area of conservation.

The appeal comes ahead of a referendum on the Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Plan next month, which some locals say doesn’t afford the town enough power over potential developments and others describe as crucial to giving locals a say on would-be projects that could significantly impact their daily lives.

Mayor Paul Mason said if the plan is ‘made’, he would call an ‘extraordinary’ town council meeting to review changing previously-formed policies in light of the Labour government’s drive to re-classify some green belt sites as ‘grey belt’ to encourage new builds around the country.