A tough decision will be made over the future of Chiltern’s AONB land this week.

Development plans are in place to build a care home for people with learning difficulties on the area north of High Street in Old Amersham.

The proposal by social-housing developers Paradigm Housing and Buckinghamshire County Council, which includes plans for 33 supported living units, has been recommended for refusal by planning officers.

Paradigm say the local need for this type of accommodation makes development imperative, while Chilterns Conservation Board have called for a rethink is the design.

Andrew Main, Executive Director of Business Development at Paradigm Housing, said: "The number of adults in Buckinghamshire with profound and multiple learning disabilities is set to increase by 150 per cent over the next 20 years.

"New accommodation is desperately required to meet this projected demand.

"The development of this site will enable new and existing clients to live as independently as possible in quality, well located, purpose built accommodation, as well as making best use of limited public finances.”

Developers say the site has the ideal blend of being close to a wide range of amenities, enclosed on all sides and has ample space for beneficial facilities such as the orchard and allotments.

Lucy Murfett, planning officer at Chilterns Conservation Board, said: "Development in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty needs careful consideration and careful design.

"Chilterns Conservation Board made design comments on the application because we thought revisions were needed.

"We think that design in AONBs should always reflect local vernacular building styles and add something positive.

"We understand there is a need for such facilities but the district council is better placed to weigh up the principal of the development."

The fate of the land will be decided by Chiltern District Council at a meeting on Thursday (October 22).

Subject to approval, developers say construction could commence in 2016 with the first occupants moving into their new homes in 2017.