1,100 new homes plan in Princes Risborough scrapped

Plans to build up to 1,100 new homes and a two-form entry primary school in a Bucks town have been scrapped.

Proposals for the site off Longwick Road in Princes Risborough were withdrawn by the three applicants Persimmon Homes Ltd, Halsbury Homes Ltd and Mr J. Eyre on September 29.

The consortium withdrew its application to make design changes and improve the energy efficiency of the properties, Persimmon Homes said.

The developer remains “fully committed” to the Princes Risborough site, a spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

They said: “Owing to some design changes and improvements that we want to make to our scheme, and to avoid delay to other parties, we have determined the best way to take this forward is through a separate application.

“The key improvements that we want to introduce relate to the energy efficiency of our homes, which will now include a combination of solar pv, air source heat pumps and other energy saving technologies.”

The spokesperson added that the improvements take into account future regulatory changes and Buckinghamshire Council’s “environmental ambitions”.

They added: “Our revised application will be submitted early next year and subject to planning approval, we look forward to delivering the new homes for Princes Risborough needs as soon as we can.”

The Council said it was unable to comment on why the application was withdrawn and the reason behind it.

The now-withdrawn plans for the site off Longwick Road were part of a huge expansion of Princes Risborough.

The 1,100 homes – 30 per cent of which were to be affordable – would have been set within public open space, along with the new Southern Primary School across 50 hectares of land.

The site would have been part of the Princes Risborough Expansion Area, which the applicants claimed provided “green infrastructure” to help create an “attractive” place to live.

Their design and access statement proposed an “ecological and wildlife corridor” along Crowbrook Stream, a cycle and footpath network and the new ‘Risborough Spine Road’.

However, several neighbours objected to the plans, including Mr Adam Dunbar of Cheverton Avenue.

He said: “This proposed application is purely about profit for one of the UKs largest house builders.”

He added: “Cheverton Avenue thoroughfare, one way, at capacity, cannot be expected to serve as rat run for 300 homes and a school.”

Another neighbour, Mrs Christine Romaya, wrote in a letter of objection that she was concerned about the overpopulation of Princes Risborough.

She said: “The town is already struggling to cope with the current number of inhabitants with regard to obtaining GP appointments. The current surgeries would not be able to provide a service for the extra people.”

She added: “This proposal is not being put forward to improve the assets of the town, it is just for profit for someone to whom this will not have any effect. The only people to suffer are those of us who live in this lovely town.”