A PLAN to build four commercial units in Stokenchurch alongside a care home would add to traffic problems and change the rural landscape, it has been claimed.

Developers Frontier Estates want to build the large units on the former Stockwells Timber Yard in Ibstone Road, along with a new 90-bed care home.

The company is yet to submit plans to Wycombe District Council but sent a newsletter to residents last week as it conducts its own consultation process.

The bid has already come in for criticism amid claims that it would make the area too industrialised and increase traffic on the Ibstone Road, which lies just off junction five of the M40.

David Doughty, 47, of nearby Mill Road, said business units had just been built near his home and the area was in danger of losing its rural landscape.

He said: "When I moved up here it was very rural. There were no industrial type units apart from the one built adjacent to my property. The landscape is significantly changing."

Mr Doughty, who works in legal services, added that the site backed on to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and more vehicles could put wildlife at risk.

He said: "The Ibstone Road just can't cope with the traffic. It is bad enough getting out of my road on to the Ibstone Road at the moment because the traffic is quite fast and there is a nasty bend where you have to be careful."

Mr Doughty also slammed the council for proposing, following a consultation, that Stockwells should be allocated for business use under plans for its Development Frame-work, which is set to replace its current planning policy.

But Mr Doughty agreed with the principal of a care home, which has also been earmarked for the site.

Tony Williamson, a spokesman for Frontiers, said: "We have been speaking to officers (at Wycombe District Council) about this for some time and we hope to have put a planning application in within four to six weeks."

Becky Wotherspoon, spokesman for the council, said its consultation had been open for six weeks where residents had been able to give their views on site usage proposals.

She said: "The views we received will be reviewed and a further document will be published which will be submitted to government."

"The Local Plan, which still forms our current planning policy, currently allocates Stockwells for business, general, industrial, warehousing development."