The chairman of a residents’ society has accused developers of using 'bully' tactics to ‘overload and overstretch’ Wycombe District Council, as a planning application for over 150 homes in Askett is submitted.

Chartered Town Planners Hourigan Connolly submitted the application for 152 homes on land adjacent to Holly Tree Poultry Farm on Askett Village Lane on May 16.

The site will have an access road on Askett Village Lane, recreational facilities, new footpaths and cycle routes.

A 12-day consultation period saw 106 responses, which were largely objections to the plan.  

Dave Maycock, Chairman of the Askett Society, criticised the way Hourigan Connolly conducted their public consultation, which started with a leaflet campaign.

He said: “The letters they put through doors could easily have been discarded as junk mail because of their appearance. They were addressed to the householder and I know that not a lot of people read it because of that. That’s the cynical way property developers work.”

He slammed the ‘speculative and aggressive application’, saying: “This is another speculative planning application to try and overload and overstretch Wycombe District Council, who are understaffed and overworked.

“They are trying to bully their way through because they think they can do what they want, where they want.

“The Askett Society is not against development in the area but it has to be done sensitively with the needs of local people taken into consideration. We think the planning department at Wycombe are trying their best with their limited resources.

“We want to work together with the district council, with RARA and other village associations to make sure development is relevant and appropriate for the area.” 

The applicant, Hourigan Connolly, says the “overall vision for the site is to provide a distinctive and high quality place”.

It insists the plans will provide a solution to the housing need while “respecting the site’s environmental and cultural assets”.

A planning statement said: “The vision responds to current conditions and future needs, with the overall aim of providing a high quality residential environment.

“The development will create up to 152 dwellings with associated public open space, which provides a choice of housing to meet the needs of the area, whilst respecting and enhancing the site’s environmental and cultural assets.”

The applicant, Hourigan Connolly, says the “overall vision for the site is to provide a distinctive and high quality place”.

It insists the plans will provide a solution to the housing need while “respecting the site’s environmental and cultural assets”.

And developers say they made every effort to engage with residents, sending a consultation out to 348 properties in the area in April and making contact with councillors.

A planning statement said: “The vision responds to current conditions and future needs, with the overall aim of providing a high quality residential environment.

“The development will create up to 152 dwellings with associated public open space, which provides a choice of housing to meet the needs of the area, whilst respecting and enhancing the site’s environmental and cultural assets.”

View the planning application here.