Work to clean up a “contaminated” former allotment site in High Wycombe could cost up to £1 million before housing can be built there, the council has revealed.

A public consultation on plans to put housing on the Bassetsbury Lane allotments site is set to begin on Monday (January 29) and run until February 12. 

The new homes - which would have to be built off-site and transported in due to the poor quality of the soil there - could be aimed at people over the age of 55 who want to downsize. 

Site investigations have revealed that beneath the remains of the Victorian tip, which is up to six metres deep, the underlying ground structure is poor.

The site will need costly remediation works, which will involve soil cleaning and adding a clay capping layer. 

New gas, electricity, water, sewage and drainage will also be need to be installed. 

There will be two public drop-in sessions at Wycombe Rye Lido, off Bassetsbury Lane, to give residents a chance to view the plans on February 1 from 2pm to 8pm and February 2 from 9am to 3pm.

  • Find out more about the plans and have your say at www.wycombe.gov.uk/Bassetsbury.