Crunch meeting tomorrow for 'special' land (From Bucks Free Press)

Crunch meeting for Wooburn Green building plan tomorrow

1:41pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

RESIDENTS and campaigners fear a council is set to allow 26 homes to be built on "special" land around an old railway line in Wooburn Green.

Officers at Wycombe District Council believe the proposals for the site behind 33 – 125 Wycombe Lane should be accepted – so long as certain conditions are met.

The council’s planning committee will meet tomorrow to consider the officers’ report and take a decision.

Neighbours argue the development will overlook and overshadow their back gardens, as well as create more parking problems and destroy a thriving wildlife habitat.

More than 50 people have signed a petition, while objections have also been lodged by Wooburn & Bourne End Parish Council and rail campaigners – who say the scheme would threaten any future train link between Wycombe and Maidenhead.

The site identified by Henry Homes Ltd lies around the old railway line between the towns.

Much of the route is undeveloped and various organisations, including the Wycombe Society, have been campaigning for the rail line to be restored.

But Iain Taylor, an agent for the developer, has said the plans would allow for any future revival of the railway. He said the old route would be covered by a road through the houses and this could be removed.

Meanwhile, the report by planning officers accepts the scheme would accord with its relevant policies, which say the route should be safeguarded for use as a footpath, cycleway or public transport corridor.

However, Wycombe Society member Nigel Phillips believes the development would make a future rail link “much more difficult and expensive”.

He says a transport link to Maidenhead would provide a huge boost for the Thames Valley economy and added: “Houses could go elsewhere but that piece of track is special and precious.”

The report by council officers recommends the plans be approved so long as the developer agrees to a Planning Obligation, which would include a financial contribution towards the local infrastructure.