An early plan to transform Princes Risborough has been released as the council try to wrestle back control of the town’s growth over the next two decades.

Wycombe District Council’s proposals include as many as 2,500 homes and two new primary schools, as well as new roads, sports facilities and open spaces.

The town council’s chairman, Alan Turner, admitted he was powerless to stop growth and insisted a plan was essential to prevent property developers from running riot.

Cllr Alan Turner, Chairman of Princes Risborough Town Council said: “Over the last two years we have reluctantly had to accept that the choice facing Risborough is not between growth and no growth, but between planned growth and unplanned growth.

“Without a robust plan in place we have no real power to ensure that we are in control of that growth.

“Right now in Princes Risborough there are active and pending applications for around 1500 new homes.

“We need the town plan in place to fight off speculative piecemeal development like this which would bring new homes without the right infrastructure to support the expansion.

“Please look at the plans and do your bit to help get the best result we can for Risborough.”

WDC say an expansion to the Princes Estate will allocate more land for business and new roads will relieve the main road through the town centre and improve connectivity to the main railway station.

A six-week consultation period (ending March 28) is now taking place with Wycombe District Council calling for residents to give feedback on the plans.

A market stall will be in the High Street this morning from 9.30am until 12.30pm for residents to give feedback and an exhibition will take place later today at the Community Centre (Wades Park) from 3.30pm until 8.30pm.

Another exhibition will take place on Saturday (February 27) at the Princes Centre from 10am until 2pm before a public Town Plan meeting at the Community Centre on March 3 from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.

Residents can have their say using an online survey form at www.wycombe.gov.uk/haveyoursay or by emailing a response form to newlocalplan@wycombe.gov.uk. Hard copy forms are available at Princes Risborough library on Bell Street, the town council on Clifford Road or WDC’s offices on Queen Victoria Road.