Permission given for Amersham building works (From Bucks Free Press)

Permission given for Amersham building works

10:13pm Thursday 19th February 2009 in

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TWO major planning applications in Amersham were passed by a council committee this evening.

Planners at Chiltern District Council unanimously agreed to approve a new three-tiered building at Amersham and Wycombe College’s Stanley Hill campus.

And they also gave the thumbs-up to a development of 83 new houses and a church at the former Raans Road School field site – despite opposition from residents and the town council.

Both applications were given the go-ahead after each was debated for almost an hour in front of a packed public gallery at the council’s headquarters.

However, the final decision on whether or not to grant planning permission will be made by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears.

Planners revealed at tonight’s meeting the Raans Road site has been earmarked for development by Buckinghamshire County Council – and opted to build something that “would be to the benefit of the community”.

A similar application was turned down last year.

But developers said they had “carefully considered” the reasons for refusal before making an improved application.

Of the 83 houses, 29 will be affordable – a slight increase on the previous bid.

The plans were passed by eight votes to four, despite many members of the planning committee raising concerns over a lack of parking at the new housing estate.

Parking spaces were also an issue raised during discussions on the new building at Amersham and Wycombe College.

Permission was granted to the application subject to a minimum of an additional 60 car parking spaces being included in the plans.