ALMOST 3,000 new homes demanded by the Government are to be built in Chiltern’s towns - because it is the “least worst option”.

Councillors this afternoon said the 2,900 homes would go in Amersham, Chesham and Chalfont St Peter to 2026.

Chiltern District Council members have already slammed the demand from central Government - and said they were left to choose between “trashing our countryside or trashing our towns”.

Government plans say a minimum of 86,440 new houses have to be built in the county in the next 18 years.

The Chiltern district’s share of that figure is 2,900 - a minimum of 145 a year.

It means councillors have to consider building on Green Belt land.

Today they voted to target the district’s three biggest towns as this would have the least significant impact on the protected Green Belt land.

The council’s deputy leader Linda Smith said the issue was “one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make”.

She added: “It will have implications for how the district will look over the next 20 years. It’s being forced onto us by this Labour government and we really have our hands tied.

“By instinct we all want to protect the Green Belt land. We are seeking the least worst option for Chiltern and one that will be accepted by the public.

“We want an option that will mean Chiltern will retain its character with the absolute minimum loss of Green Belt.”

Cllr Mike Smith said: “What an appalling situation we are in. We can choose whether we can trash our countryside or trash our towns.”

However councillors proposed a caveat designed to help protect the Green Belt.

It means that areas closest to the towns of Amersham, Chesham and Chalfont St Peter will be selected for development - but nothing will be built on them “unless or until a need has been demonstrated”.

Last week Buckinghamshire county councillors slammed the demand and warned it would eat into Green Belt and push roads and public services such as hospitals (see link, right).