Councillors have spoken out against plans to develop hundreds of new houses in Saunderton.

Plans to build housing estates on Wests Yard Industrial Site in Slough Lane and the Molins site in Haw Lane have caused controversy among residents and councillors.

Dandara Homes submitted a planning application around six months ago to create 42 new homes on the site of Wests Yard, but the planning application has not yet been determined by Wycombe District Council.

The vacant Molins site is classified as brownfield land and has been bought by developers, St. Congar Land, who are expected to put in a planning application to build 213 new homes on the site, by the end of the year.

The land next to the Molins site is now owned by the same land owner as St. Congar, meaning the developers could potentially create between 500 and 1000 houses on the site.

Councillor Carl Etholen has raised concerns about traffic if the plans are approved.

He said: “As a Resident and the local County Councillor, I fully understand that there is a shortage of new housing being built within Wycombe District.

“In my opinion, the proposed units on the Wests Yard site would improve the area which has been for industrial use, but I have grave concerns about traffic movements.

“With 42 units, there would probably be approximately 100 extra vehicles accessing the A4010 via Slough Lane. Already during the rush hour, there is always a queue trying to get out onto the main Road.

“There is single file traffic under the railway bridge with traffic having to give way. This will only increase with more traffic.

“With the planning application about to be submitted for the former Molins site, again there would be an issue with traffic movements onto Haw Lane under the bridge. It is proposed to have again single file traffic under the bridge as there are plans to have a pedestrian pavement for Residents to walk to the Station. This will cause real traffic issues on Haw Lane and with approximately an extra 500 vehicles and these will need to access the already heavily trafficked A4010.”

Councillor Etholen also raised concerns about the potential ‘chaos’ caused by construction vehicles if the plans are given the go ahead.

“If this planning application is approved, there will be an issue with construction traffic as there is a height restriction under the bridge. The alternative route into the site would be down a single track lane from the Chorley Road in West Wycombe which is unsuitable for Heavy Goods Vehicles or for high sided vehicles. They would have to be unloaded before the bridge by Deanfield Close and transported on another vehicle to site. This would cause chaos for existing Residents to get out onto the A4010.

“My other concern is that there may be plans to develop all the fields adjacent to the Molins site with a further 600 to 800 houses. Currently there are only 2,500 Residents in the Parish. This would increase the population by a further 2,500 approximately. Construction would be on greenbelt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

“This goes against all the purpose of the Legislation protecting greenbelt and AONB and would set a precedent for future plans. There is no infrastructure in place even for the development proposed for 217 houses. In Saunderton, we have no shop, or schools or Community Village hall. There is only a Railway station and a pub. The nearest primary schools are in Bledlow Ridge and Lacey Green. Both are already oversubscribed.

“I am against both of these developments and having spoken to other Residents, I believe they are in agreement with me.”

Elke Hojer, Parish Councillor for Bledlow-cum-Saunderton parish Council, said: "As a Councillor, I am concerned about the new proposals for development in Saunderton, with over 40 houses at Wests Yard, over 200 houses at the Molins site and potentially another 800 plus houses in the future.

“Although one of the selling points of these developments is having Saunderton Station close by, no provision has been made for extra parking there. The traffic onto the A4010 from both Slough Lane and Haw Lane, the single file road with pavement under the Haw Lane bridge, the overflow of traffic into the surrounding areas because people will not be able to get onto the A4010, which already has severe problems as well as the HS2 building traffic to come, the lack of Schools, GP’s or shops, is very concerning.

“I just hope Wycombe District Council will take all these concerns into account before they grant the go ahead."