Plans to build two homes next to a “thriving” pub in Booker were thrown out by the council on Wednesday.

Wycombe District Council’s planning committee rejected Hawthorn Leisure’s proposals to construct the two-bedroom semi-detached homes on the site of The Squirrel, in Squirrel Lane.

Councillors felt the plans were an overdevelopment of the site and the loss of part of the garden area and car park would have a “detrimental impact” on the busy pub.

However councillor Sebert Graham praised proposals for providing much needed homes in the area, and urged the community to support local businesses to ensure they remain viable.

He said: “I think if you look at the way I am looking at it, there is such a vast need for housing in High Wycombe and having two houses built there would give someone who probably is badly in need of housing a chance to own the accommodation.

“Yes we lose a bit of site but what the community needs to do is support the pubs and make sure this is a viable business.”

Plans included two new parking spaces for each home and an additional 14 spaces to make up for the loss of part of the car park.

Cabinet member for planning, David Johncock, proposed the committee refuse the application due to the impact the homes could have on current residents living near the pub and on the view of the neighbouring common.

He said: “The first thing is over development of the site, the impact on the amenity of residents and neighbours - and I don’t think putting in acoustic fencing solves that - and then the impact on the view over the common, which is what you are seeing on the screen now, which will be lost, and members may have other ideas added to that but certainly those three would be in my eyes reason for refusal.”

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Paul Turner cast the deciding vote after six councillors backed the development and six voted against.

Summing up the committee’s concerns, planning officer Stephanie Penney said: “In the opinion of the local planning authority the proximity of the additional parking spaces and relocation of the side amenity area adjacent to 2, The Coppice will result in a concentration of activity closer to the existing residential property resulting in a poor relationship to the potential sources of noise and disturbance.

“In addition it could prejudice the long term viability of the community facility.”