Fear Bourne End, Flackwell Heath and Wooburn 'could merge' if land released for homes

The potential release of greenbelt land separating three villages in South Buckinghamshire could see them merge into one large conurbation, a councillor has warned.

Buckinghamshire Council has published a map of sites which could be considered suitable for development as part of its draft local plan, which is due to be published for consultation in July.

It has launched a survey, giving residents the chance to comment on whether more than 400 identified sites are suitable for inclusion in the plan.

One area of land that appears to now face an uncertain future is a number of greenbelt fields atop a hill between the three villages of Bourne End, Flackwell Heath and Wooburn, potentially earmarked for 500 homes.

Councillor Penny Drayton, Flackwell Heath & The Wooburns, said there were ‘absolutely’ fears about the future of the three villages if housebuilding began at the site.

She added: “The hillside is a completely visible divider between the three places.

“Everyone knows that Flackwell is up on the other side of the fields, Wooburn and Bourne End are on the other side.

“Where they’re proposing the development will effectively run the houses from Bourne End round to Wooburn.

“You won’t be able to see the fields at the top and therefore, visually, all three villages will in effect be merged.”

Cllr Drayton said she had spoken to residents living near the proposed development site who had ‘great concerns’.

“It’s a ridiculous site, actually, anyway in regards to its topography,” she added.

“That area, it’s so visual, it will completely alter the impression of the entire area.”

Buckinghamshire Council is under pressure to meet Government imposed target to build to build 95,000 homes.

Matthew Pennycock MP, on behalf of Minister for Housing Steve Broadbent, wrote to the leader of Buckinghamshire Council earlier this month regarding its Local Development Scheme (LDS).

Mr Pennycock said ‘the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply’ and it needed to publish a revised LDS by March 11.

Leader of Buckinghamshire Council Steven Broadbent said the council was ‘advancing work on a new local plan that will provide a framework for how the county grows and develops over the next 20 years’.

“This plan is a legal requirement to demonstrate how Buckinghamshire can accommodate 95,000 new homes to meet targets that are being imposed on us by the Government.”

Cllr Broadbent said the target ‘represents an eye-watering 43 per cent increase’ on its previous surveys and the council was ‘committed to doing all it can to protect our precious greenbelt’.

He added that the site between Bourne End, Flackwell Heath and Wooburn did not ‘currently form part of the cumulative local plan numbers’.

He continued: “This is part of the approach to give protection for the greenbelt that the council have put in place, but there is a requirement for these sites to be assessed at this stage, should the planning hierarchy result in exceptional circumstances inclusion of greenbelt land.

“This classification applies to the site at Wooburn and Bourne End.

“More detailed technical work is on-going and no decisions on allocations have been made at this stage; draft allocations will be made available in the summer for formal consultation.”

The consultation is available to view online at: tinyurl.com/bdfr36dc