Angry campaigners have slammed “unrealistic” plans for around 2,600 new homes to be built on “valued landscape” in Princes Risborough, which they say will “double the size” of the market town.

A paper petition, which has garnered almost 4,000 signatures, will be presented to Wycombe District Council at the full council meeting tonight, where it will be debated in more detail.

Members of the Risborough Area Residents Association (RARA) are fighting for a “better town plan”, saying the associated infrastructure recommendations are “vague, deficient and divisive”, and that the town’s infrastructure will not be able to cope with the number of new homes planned.

Chairman Linda Canon Clegg said: “Against the background of the recent government housing agenda, we recognise WDC faces difficult circumstances in meeting the government’s housing target of 12,900 homes.

“Although sympathetic to these constraints, RARA cannot support WDC’s proposal to expand Princes Risborough by more than 2,600 homes.

“This is too much growth too quickly. We are not saying no to growth, but it is about the right amount of growth.

“We need to do what is best for the town.”

She said residents and the association feel prejudiced against since the land the new homes will be built on is not Green Belt or in an area of outstanding natural beauty, adding that closer to 1,500 homes would be more sustainable for the town.

She said: “Just because this land is not Green Belt land, why should it suffer?

“There is research now being carried out about how valued landscapes are of value to not just people who live here but people who visit.

“So in future when they come – well, they won’t come because they’ll be looking over a housing estate.

“The commitment from the county and district councils is to recognise these valued landscapes.”

Wycombe District Council insisted it needed to meet the need to build new homes, adding it wanted to do “more than that”.

Spokesman Sue Robinson said: “We want to build a place for people to live.

“Our plan for Princes Risborough includes building a new link road to relieve pressure on the A4010, building two new primary schools, expanding secondary school places and working with the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to plan for local health services like GP surgeries.

“It also includes new sporting facilities, an extensive network of green spaces and improved connections between the expansion area and the existing town.

“Building fewer homes in Princes Risborough would not trigger these significant infrastructure benefits for the town, meaning new residents would use existing infrastructure.”

The online petition can be found at www.change.org/p/wycombe-district-council-wdc-review-the-risborough-town-plan-the-need-for-3200-new-houses-is-unsustainable.

WDC's statement in full:

“We’ve received the RARA petition which will be presented in the full council meeting on Monday. We welcome the fact that local people care about where they live.

“We have engaged in many local conversations over the last two years, and we set up a local steering group, chaired by the Town Council, and with local representatives like RARA, to shape the future of the town.

“We have to meet the need to build more new homes - but want to do more than that.

“We want to build a place for people to live. It’s important that we all share the facts openly and honestly.

“Our plan for Princes Risborough includes building a new link road to relieve pressure on the A4010, building two new primary schools, expanding secondary school places and working with the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to plan for local health services like GP surgeries.

“It also includes new sporting facilities, an extensive network of green spaces and improved connections between the expansion area and the existing town.

“Our plan is for up to 2500 new homes in the expansion area, as well as new homes on the derelict site next to the railway station and on land to the rear of Poppy Road.

“Including other sites that already have planning permission that means that a total of 2755 new homes will be built in the town between now and 2033.

“Building fewer  homes (1,000 to 1,500) in Princes Risborough would not trigger these significant infrastructure benefits for the town, meaning new residents would use existing infrastructure.”