Row over delays to plans for a major expansion of Amersham and Chalfont Hockey Club

The club wants to construct two artificial pitches, with fencing and floodlights, broadly on the site of its existing floodlit pitch

The council says the application by the club was initially invalid because required information was missing and that further details about ecology and flooding were subsequently needed.

The club began discussing its proposals with the council through the pre-application process in January 2025 before first submitting the planning application on October 29 that year.

The club says Buckinghamshire Council failed to determine the application by an agreed extended deadline of April 30, putting its construction timetable in jeopardy and increasing its costs.

It says it agreed to extend the determination deadline after planning officers were unable to decide the application within the statutory eight-week period.

The club says that, more than three months after the extended deadline passed, a decision has still not been issued.

The club had hoped to begin construction in late March or early April 2027, immediately after the end of the next hockey season.

It fears further delays could push the work into the 2027/28 season, disrupting matches and training.

The not-for-profit organisation also says it cannot apply for much of the funding it requires until planning permission has been secured.

It expects to raise the money through grants, subsidies and loans from members and has appointed a professional fundraiser to identify possible sources of support.

Club chairman Rob Levine said the continuing uncertainty was making it increasingly difficult to plan.

“Amersham and Chalfont Hockey Club has spent years building a thriving, inclusive sporting community for people of all ages and abilities,” he said.

“We are ready to move forward with an important redevelopment that would allow us to welcome more players and secure the club’s future. But we cannot apply for the funding we need or finalise the construction programme until planning permission is in place.

“Every additional delay makes it harder to complete the work during the summer break and increases the risk of serious disruption to our members. We understand that planning applications must be properly assessed, but after agreeing to an extended deadline of 30 April, we need clarity and a decision.”

The club says it has more than 700 members, including around 500 children, 180 adult players and 60 veterans, while 15 disabled players take part in its specialist Flyerz hockey programme.

It runs eight women’s teams and seven men’s teams, including two over-70s teams.

It also works with charities on projects including mental health in sport and veterans’ hockey for former members of the armed forces.

Cllr Kelly Thornton, who was approached by the club for help, said planning delays were having real-life consequences for community organisations.

She said: “Planning officers are working hard but are overstretched. The council administration needs to urgently address the shortages of staff and resources issues.

“Delays are causing real life impacts on individuals and preventing community organisation like the Hockey Club from pursuing important local projects that are of so much benefit to the community.”

Her ward colleague Cllr Dominic Pinkney added: “It has done everything expected of it, following due process, but months later it is still waiting for a decision. It is a non-profit that is incurring extra, unnecessary costs and the council need to ensure that this application is determined without further delay.”

Buckinghamshire Council said the application was initially submitted on October 29, 2025, but was deemed invalid because some required information had not been provided.

It was subsequently validated in January 2026 after the missing information was supplied.

Cllr Peter Strachan, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for planning, said the site was subject to “a number of complex constraints” because it was in the Green Belt and affected by ecological and flooding designations.

He said: “When the planning application was initially submitted, the applicant had not provided sufficient information regarding ecology and flooding.

“Since January, officers have been working proactively with the applicant in order to source the relevant information to support the scheme, in order to try and support a positive decision.