PEOPLE living near a piece of waste land they say is an eyesore have welcomed plans to build houses on it, even though the scheme faces objections from the council.

PEOPLE living near a piece of waste land they say is an eyesore have welcomed plans to build houses on it, even though the scheme faces objections from the council.

Chiltern District Council planners voted to reject an application to build 23 cottages and houses on the site in Back Lane, Great Missenden.

They said that the land, a former builder's yard, should be preserved for future business use.

An appeal inspector upheld the decision on the grounds that the site would be overcrowded, but said in his report: 'Development of the site for housing would be acceptable in principle.'

Wright's Builder's Yard, which has been empty for a number of years, was described by one resident as being like a Bosnia bomb site.

Douglas Lowndes, who lives opposite, said: 'I have lived here for 19 years and saw it when it was a builder's yard. Now it looks like a bomb site in Bosnia and it is time they put it right.'

Another resident, Leonard Buckle, 82, praised the move to make some of the homes 'affordable'.

He said: 'The sort of housing up to now in this area is nearly all four or five-bedroom executive homes. There has been nothing for younger people in the area - this is much more appropriate.

'At the moment that land is an eyesore, anyway. I welcome them in principle as long as it is not overdeveloped.'

Peter Jones (Lib Dem), Chiltern district councillor, said: 'As a member of the planning committee I'm naturally disappointed that our decision was only partly upheld.

'But if new houses have to be built somewhere, it is better to use previously developed land like this than to dig up the green fields outside the village.'

He added: 'Planners must now ensure that any homes that are proposed are in keeping with the surroundings and don't affect the neighbours with extra traffic or parking.'