Proposal to put up part of former Bucks Sports & Social Club site for community use given the go ahead

Bucks Council members accepted the recommendation at a cabinet meeting yesterday.

The decision concerns the site of the former Bucks Sports & Social Club in Stoke Mandeville, which was closed in 2018 and is council-owned.

The new plans for the club come after a High Court judge overruled the grant of outline planning permission for a 100 home development on the site, initially granted by the Bucks Council in 2024, after it was objected to by both Stoke Mandeville Parish Council and a campaign group. 

Two recommendations were accepted at yesterday's cabinet meetings, the first being to split the fields in three parts and the second being to put the Northern field section up to be marketed for community use only for a period of 12 months.

The remaining two sections have been earmarked for use by neighbouring Booker Park school, who hope to use them for an expansion which would allow them to provide an additional 86 places for children with SEND requirements. During the meeting, councillors were reminded this figure represents 10% of the additional places that are required throughout the county.

Councillors also asked for clarification on what constituted "community use", and what would thus make a viable bid, with Councillor Robert Carington explaining it meant “anything which demonstrates community value and addresses local need, anything such as recreation, leisure, well -being, or education."

In the meeting it was explained that under planning policy in the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan, Bucks Council would only be able to successfully put up the Northern field for alternative use, such as residential, if there is no viable interest in community use. To address this, the Council requires officers to market the site for 12 weeks minimum and if no viable bid is received it will remain on the market for a further nine months. 

It's also been said that Stoke Mandeville Parish Council have expressed interest in bidding for the site, having made an initial offer in September 2025 for the entire three sections. Councillor Robert Carington added that since then a number of meetings and email exchanges have taken place and the parish council have acknowledged Booker Park school's plans and are prepared to adjust their bid to include only the Northern field. he also explained that regardless of previously expressed interest there will need to be a bid process. 

According the report on the proposal given to cabinet, marketing for community use could begin this month, with a decision on the Council's disposal of the site happening in October 2027 or earlier. 

A webcast of the cabinet meeting can be found here (external), with the report to cabinet available here (external).