The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee of Buckinghamshire Council is scheduled to consider two planning applications at its upcoming meeting. One application seeks permission for a significant new housing development in Longwick, while the other concerns extensions to a residential property in High Wycombe.

New Housing Development in Longwick

A major focus of the meeting will be the consideration of a full planning application for the demolition of a residential dwelling and associated structures at Chiltern, Thame Road, Longwick, Buckinghamshire HP27 9SF, to be replaced by 57 new residential dwellings. The application, submitted by Nicholas King Strategic Ltd, also includes proposals for new access from Thame Road, open space, landscaping, drainage, and associated infrastructure works.

The report pack indicates that the Council is minded to refuse planning permission for this development. The primary reason cited is the absence of a legal agreement to secure essential planning obligations. These include the provision of affordable housing, contributions towards primary education and healthcare facilities, improvements to local bus services, and the management of public open space and sustainable drainage systems. The report highlights that without such an agreement, the development would contravene several policies within the Wycombe District Local Plan and the Delivery and Site Allocations Plan, as well as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Despite the recommendation to refuse, the report notes that the applicant has indicated a willingness to enter into a legal agreement to secure these obligations. The application has been called in for consideration by the Planning Committee by Councillors Matthew Walsh and Gary Hall, who have formally objected. The Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council also objects, stating that the proposed development exceeds the agreed housing numbers within their Neighbourhood Plan and would extend into green, open meadow land, impacting views from the Chiltern Hills. Concerns have also been raised about traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and the existing strain on local services.

The report details that the Council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites, which triggers the presumption in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11(d) of the NPPF. However, it is noted that the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Neighbourhood Plan is over five years old, meaning the adverse impacts of development conflicting with it are not likely to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing delivery. The assessment weighs the significant benefits of contributing to housing supply against the significant negative weight attributed to the failure to secure affordable housing and necessary infrastructure.

Residential Extensions in High Wycombe

The committee will also consider a householder application for a part first-floor side extension and a single-storey ground-floor rear extension at 226 Totteridge Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 7LF. The application, submitted by Mrs Sophie Walker, has been called in for consideration by the Planning Committee by ward councillors Julia Wassell and Imran Hussain, following objections from neighbours.

The neighbours' concerns centre on the proximity of the proposed extensions to the shared boundary, potential overshadowing, loss of privacy due to new windows, and the overall design and character of the property, which they believe is out of keeping with the locality. The report notes that amended plans have been submitted to reduce the ridge height of the first-floor extension and introduce a staggered design.

Officers consider that the amended proposal, despite not maintaining a full 1-metre separation to the shared boundary along its entire length due to the plot's tapered shape, safeguards the character of the area. They also believe that proposed high-level and obscure-glazed windows will mitigate any harm to the amenities of the adjacent dwelling at no. 228 Totteridge Road. The recommendation from officers is to approve the application, subject to conditions relating to materials, obscure glazing for specific windows, and the prohibition of further windows on the flank elevations.

The report confirms that the site is not within the Green Belt, Chilterns National Landscape, or a Conservation Area. It also states that the proposed extensions do not increase the number of habitable rooms, meaning the existing on-site parking provision remains adequate. The application is exempt from the mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain requirement.