The East and South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on Tuesday 11 November 2025, and approved an application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the erection of seven apartments at 2 Westfield Road, Beaconsfield.

Planning Application: 2 Westfield Road, Beaconsfield

The committee approved application PL/25/1227/FA for the demolition of the existing dwelling and erection of seven apartments at 2 Westfield Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 1EG, in line with the officer's recommendation.

This application followed a previously refused application, ref. PL/23/3675/FA, which was refused on grounds relating to the scheme's impact on the character of the area. That previous application was subject to a dismissed appeal. The appeal was only dismissed by the Inspector on the basis that the planning obligation that accompanied the appeal, and which was required to secure the necessary financial contribution towards the Burnham Beeches Mitigation Strategy, was not in a form that the Inspector considered could be relied upon to secure the necessary mitigation. The current application remains unchanged from that previous application.

The application site is located within the developed area of Beaconsfield, within a Residential Area of Exceptional Character (RAEC) and a 'Woodlands' road.

Speaking in objection, Mr J Slater represented local residents. Mr J Kestell-Cornish spoke on behalf of the applicant, Zafiro Homes. Councillor Cole Caesar did not take part in the vote due to entering the chamber after the officer had started to present the application.

The approval was subject to conditions, including:

• The development must begin within three years.
• A schedule of materials to be used in the elevations of the development must be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing.
• Prior to the laying of any hardsurfacing, a specification of all finishing materials to be used in any hard surfacing of the application site must be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing.
• The development must be constructed in accordance with the approved landscape scheme.
• All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping must be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the occupation of the development.
• Tree protection measures must be installed before any development takes place.
• The development must be implemented in accordance with the agreed precautionary measures relating to bats, nesting birds, amphibians, and invasive plant species.
• Details of biodiversity features of one integrated bat box, two integrated swift boxes, log/brash pile creation and hedgehog highways, must be submitted to, and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
• In the event that contamination is found at any time when carrying out the approved development that was not previously identified it must be reported in writing immediately to the Local Planning Authority.
• The existing means of access must be altered in accordance with the approved planning drawing.
• The scheme for parking and manoeuvring indicated on the submitted plans must be laid out prior to the initial occupation of the development.
• A Construction Traffic Management Plan must be submitted and approved in writing by the Planning Authority in consultation with the Highway Authority, prior to the commencement of any works on the site.
• Details of the method for disposal of material to be extracted to form the basement must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, prior to any extraction of material.
• A surface water drainage scheme for the site must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, prior to any works (other than demolition) beginning.
• The development must be undertaken solely in accordance with the list of approved plans.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Jackson Ng declared an interest in application PL/25/1227/FA due to being the Ward Member and having previously called in the application. He stated there had received correspondence that he had undertaken some work in a professional capacity as a barrister against the applicant, but that he did not recall having done so. On the advice of the Monitoring Officer the alleged claim was unsubstantiated and therefore the Monitoring Officer was satisfied that Councillor Ng was permitted to sit on the committee, and he confirmed that he had an open mind and had not pre-determined the application.

Approval of Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2025 were agreed as an accurate record.