Planners have refused a Chalfont school’s plans to create a new teaching space within its grounds.

This is just one of the many applications considered by Buckinghamshire Council during the past seven days.

To view more details for each application, go to the council’s planning portal with the reference number attached.

Change of use of caretaker’s flat at Dr Challoner’s High School, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont (PL/24/1966/SA)

Council planning officers said they had refused Dr Challoner’s plans because the use of the vacant caretaker’s flat would constitute ‘development’ and not merely a ‘change of use’.

They said planning permission would therefore be required rather than a less stringent change of use application.

In a decision notice they wrote: “The fact that the dwelling is located within the school grounds and has historically been used solely as a caretakers residence makes no difference.”

Dr Challoner’s, a grammar school for girls aged 11-18, wanted to use the building as a teaching and enrichment space after the former caretaker who lived in a property by the school entrance recently left the school following many years of service.

Plans stated: “Rather than leave the building empty and for it to potentially fall into disrepair over time, we intend to use it as a teaching and enrichment space as part of Dr Challoner’s High School thereby enabling the school to provide an enhanced educational and wellbeing experience to our students.”

New MOT testing station, Unit 13B, Westfield Farm, Westfield, Medmenham (24/06387/FUL)

Planning officers refused plans to change the use of the site from storage or distribution to an MOT testing station due to flooding concerns.

They pointed out that L & M Spares Limited’s application for the new facility was a broadly ‘acceptable development within the open countryside and on a scattered business site’.

Officers found that the proposals complied with road safety and environmental requirements and would not impact on residents.

However, they said the site was within a flood risk zone and that a risk assessment submitted by the applicant ‘did not adequately assess the flood risks posed by the development’.

New solar panels at Big Yellow Self Storage, 320 London Road, High Wycombe (24/06565/PNP14J)

Planners have given the green light to the proposals to install 391 solar panels on the roof of the large self-storage facility.

The solar panels are designed to be self-cleaning when it rains, meaning there is little maintenance involved and their addition to the building will not change its use.

The plans state: “As a renewable energy source, this material will make a positive environmental contribution.”