Agenda item

Change of use of land to sports pitches with associated pavilion, storage, parking, boundary fencing and landscaping. New Vehicular access onto Wooburn Green Lane.

The application was the subject of a site visit.

Members noted the written update provided at the meeting and attached to the Minutes.

Members also noted the amendment to the recommendation which was that the application be deferred and delegated top the Service Director of Planning and Environment for:

1.    Approval subject to the satisfactory completion of a separate s106 agreement or a combined agreement and deed of variation relating to applications PL/22/2329/FA and land at Wilton Park covered by permission 17/01763/OUT, to secure the matters set out in the update, or

2.    To refuse the application if agreement could not be reached for reasons to be determined by the Service Director of Planning and Environment.

Following a full debate, Members voted in favour of the motion to refuse the application for the following reasons:

The proposed development would not preserve the openness of the Green Belt and would conflict with two of the five purposes of including land within the Green Belt, namely: a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. Therefore, the proposals are inappropriate development in the Green Belt. There are no Very Special Circumstances to justify this inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The proposed development is contrary to Policy GB1 of the South Bucks District Local Plan 1999 (consolidated September 2007 and February 2011) (herein ‘the Local Plan’) and Paragraphs 138, 147, 148, 149 and 150 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (herein ‘the NPPF’).

Through providing the proposed development on land at Glory Hill Lane, as an alternative location to delivering permanent football pitches at the approved Wilton Park scheme in Beaconsfield (reference 17/01763/OUT), this would lead to a loss of a facilities for the community at Wilton Park contrary to Core Policy 14 of the South Bucks Core Strategy 2011 (herein ‘the Core Strategy’) and the Wilton Park Development Brief Supplementary Planning Document 2015.

There would be harm to the amenity of the receptors in the vicinity of the site, including additional noise. The access and parking arrangements would dominate the landscape and therefore be detrimental to the character and appearance of the area. The proposals would be contrary to Policy EP3 of the Local Plan, Core Policy 9 of the Core Strategy and paragraphs, 130, 174 and 185 of the NPPF.

It has not been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority that the off-site Biodiversity Net Gain can be achieved. As such, the proposals are contrary to Core Policy 9 of the Core Strategy and paragraphs 8 and 174 of the NPPF.

Speaking as Ward Councillor: Councillor J Ng

Speaking on behalf of Beaconsfield Town Council: Cllr P Mason

Speaking in objection: Mrs A Sumner

Speaking in support: Mr M White

Speaking as the applicant: Mr M Reyner

It was proposed by Councillor A Wheelhouse and seconded by Councillor G Sandy.

            Resolved: that the application be refused for the reasons laid out above.